application
Mun
Name: Tad
Livejournal Username: tadity
E-mail: tad(dot)coast(at)gmail(dot)com
AIM/MSN: aim: tadity
Current Characters at Luceti: Homura screwthegods, Mihai Mihailov whichwayagain, Amelia thedicearecast, Vincent Nightray forbrotherslove
Character
Name: Ichimura Tatsunosuke
Fandom: Peacemaker Kurogane
Gender: Male
Age: Unknown, but I’d say about 21
Time Period: PMK volume 5 chapter 1
Wing Color: Pale pink with a red blotch on the left wing.
History: The world of 19th century Japan: the dwindling days before the end of the Tokugawa era saw the first sparks of war that would change the fate of the nation. One of the major issues of the time was Japan's interaction with outside nations. Many people wanted nothing to do with foreigners, while others saw Japan's isolationist policies as impossible to maintain--and a few people simply wanted to maintain peace in whatever manner they could. One such person was Ichimura Ryuunosuke, who became known as Ichimura the Peacemaker for his way of calming potentially volatile situations as he translated languages for people otherwise unable to understand each other. Instead of exact translations, Ryuunosuke would misconstrue the often arrogant or angry intent of people in order to maintain peace. When he wasn't on foreign soil, Ryuunosuke would attempt to instill these values to his two sons: Tatsunosuke, the elder and usually more serious and responsible brother, and Tetsunosuke, younger, idealistic, and unstoppably energetic.
Someone saw Ryuunosuke's practices as a threat, however. While Tatsunosuke (then about 16 or 17) was away from the home, a man Ryuunosuke identified as Choushuu rebel attacked his parents' home, killing both of the parents and setting the house on fire. While the brothers had both survived, Tetsunosuke was severely psychologically damaged: he not only witnessed the beheading of both his parents, but smelled their bodies burning as he hid in a closet. As a result, Tetsu physically stopped aging from that point forward. Tatsunosuke assumed a different role, as his responsible nature kept his grief in check enough to allow the pair to survive. Tatsu devoted himself to being Tetsu's caretaker, doing everything in his power to see to Tetsunosuke's well-being, including taking labor jobs he was no good at. A bit of good fortune seemed to come their way, however, as after two years, Tatsunosuke was hired by the Shinsengumi as an accountant.
There was only one problem: Tetsunosuke. Eager to learn the sword to take revenge for his family, the boy joined the Shinsengumi as well, placed in the role of Vice Commander Hijikata Toshiro's page. The only consolation Tatsu had was that the role should have kept Tetsu from actual danger, even if he practiced swordsmanship with Okita Souji. Tatsu himself didn't wish to seek revenge for his parents, or any sort of power. He's content to live as a humble bookkeeper, doing his best to keep Tetsu from getting himself killed. His constant hope is that nothing worse than his own stomach ulcers will plague the brothers from that point on.
Unfortunately, between Tetsunosuke's stubbornness and fate itself, Tatsu simply wouldn't have his way. From his failed attempts at becoming a spy to prove himself more worthy than Yamazaki Susumu to his boisterous introduction to Yamanami Keisuke (Tatsunosuke's boss), Tetsu seemed determined to work Tatsu's every nerve into an early grave. Perhaps the worst was when, in an attempt to cheer Tetsu's spirits (or so the story goes), Yamanami takes Tetsunosuke to Shimabara, in the red light district of Kyoto-and all that it implied. In order to preserve his brother's honor, Tatsunosuke took off running after them, and asked for his brother at every single brothel he comes to until he finds the right one. His relief-based weeping and introduction to Kitamura Suzu and Saya, Tetsu's friends, were interrupted by the arrival of Yoshida Toushimaro, who instructed Suzu (his page) to get away from Tetsu, referring to him as a filthy creature. A second encounter with Yoshida and Suzu shortly after leaves Tetsu traumatized, as he was once again forced to hide in a closet of an abandoned house which Yoshida set on fire, while Yoshida tried to kill him. Suzu defied his master long enough to keep Tetsu alive until people began to notice the fire, at which point they fled. Tatsunosuke, who had been praying at his parents' graves, also noticed the smoke and went to see-something he noted as his bad habit. Prompted by a sense of foreboding, Tatsu soaked himself and rushed into the house in time to save Tetsu, although he was attacked by his younger brother out of sheer terror. Tetsu was left scared and speechless even as the Shinsengumi sortied to raid a meeting of Choushuu leaders, until Susumu yelled at him for being a coward. Tatsunosuke overheard this and tried to punch Susumu in anger, but his punch was easily blocked. Susumu then called Tatsunosuke's true motives into question, claiming that he actually wanted his brother remain stunted.
Despite all this, Tetsu had grown both as a swordsman and as a person, and came to a resolution that finally broke through the psychological barrier keeping him from aging by going to fight at Ikedaya. As Tetsu continued to develop, Tatsunosuke felt useless to do anything for his brother. His rapid growth meant that even the pants Tatsu tried to lengthen for Tetsu were too short before he could try them on. But then the brothers met a man by the name of Sakamoto Ryouma, who used a weapon still relatively new in Japan: a gun. Because a gun was so much easier to wield than a sword, even someone like Tatsu could use it-which was the very reason Ryouma warned Tatsu not to, or else he'd end up pointing that gun at the person he wanted to protect most. Ryouma instead wished Tatsu and Tetsu to join his side, and to aim for peace just as their father had. Tatsunosuke made two things very clear over his encounters with Ryouma, the first being that unlike his father, he held no concern for the state of the world or the country, but only for the well-being of his family. The second was his resolve to never point a gun at Tetsu, which remained strong enough for Tatsunosuke to purchase a rifle. Finally convinced he could do something for Tetsu, Tatsunosuke's spirits lifted-and this is the point I am taking him from.
Personality: Tatsunosuke sums up his personality pretty well himself, in a talk with Okita: Being an orphan has helped me develop a forward-thinking way of living. There isn't time to sigh over yesterday's tragedy when you must work today for tomorrow's food. Do you understand? I don't think about my parents. I only think about money. Really…I'm a terrible son. The one honor I can offer them is to raise Tetsu to be a proper adult.
While Tatsu has always been more serious than his father or his brother (as seen when he tattles on them for playing with the offerings as a child), the death of his parents and the resultant psychological trauma of his brother forced Tatsunosuke to step up in a big and ultimately detrimental way. He literally devotes his entire life to raising and caring for Tetsu, no matter what he has to do. This includes manual labor and cooking, neither of which Tatsunosuke is particularly good at, but he goes at it whole-heartedly…which is ultimately the problem. Tatsunosuke is so focused on caring for Tetsu that his own reactions to his parents' deaths are held back and suppressed. In that sense, Tatsunosuke is even more stunted than his brother; Tetsu is able to come to a resolution, but Tatsu becomes increasingly depressed as Tetsu grows, both taller and more self-reliant. Additionally, Tatsunosuke maintains his habit of always running to a house fire whenever he sees smoke. Understanding this makes Tatsu aware of his own failings, though he doesn't take the healthy route of actually dealing with his parents' deaths. Instead, he remains determined to protect Tetsu even as the younger brother fights, and takes up the gun. In this sense, Tatsu arguably hasn't developed much at all, though he is forced to accept his younger brother's growth. He just can't look away from his goal of raising Tetsu well.
In terms of day to day, Tatsunosuke largely tries to stay unnoticed and out of trouble. He tells Ryouma that the fate of the world, the country, and the Shogunate aren't his concern, and he means it. Tatsunosuke doesn't think about the past, but he also doesn't think about the distant future-he simply focuses on what he has to do to survive. With a rambunctious brother like Tetsu, particularly in the early series, this isn't so simple, and much of Tatsunosuke's time is spent running after Tetsu and apologizing for his messes. In this Tatsu is very animated, and quick to throw himself to the ground and beg forgiveness. This doesn't make him a doormat, however. In one instance, he uses his begging to basically shame a man into being unable to violently lash out at Tetsu and Suzu for cutting off the sleeve of his clothing. In another, he calmly and politely asks three captains of the Shinsengumi to not fool with Tetsu in the future, leaving the trio feeling so awkward that they agree to comply. He uses his words to accomplish his purpose, and proves to be fairly clever and quick thinking in this regard. Yet despite how quick he is to humble himself when the need arises, Tatsunosuke doesn't typically open himself up to others in regards to his personal feelings. This leaves others worried and surprised when Tatsunosuke does express himself, though it takes either a great deal of trauma or a lot of sake for that to happen. Despite how often he's flailing, weeping, and bowing, Tatsunosuke actually is pretty good at maintaining control over himself when he's around others. In the rare instances when he's comfortable around a person, he will speak frankly to them-though depending on what he says, he may be embarrassed about it afterward.
Hands down, most of Tatsunosuke's time is spent worrying over his brother, to the point that he will neglect his work to spy on Tetsu, despite knowing better. Then, when Tetsu develops to the point that Tatsu can't do this directly, he turns his obsession to his gun to such a degree that even Tetsu is worried. When interacting with Tetsu, Tatsu is often strict and overbearing, although he means well. Even later on, when Tetsu clearly knows what he's doing while escorting Saya, Tatsu gives him the most basic of instructions in keeping her safe. Notably, the treatment has lightened up since the start of the series, although this is likely due in part to the fact that Tetsu doesn't argue about it so much in return.
Strengths: Physically, Tatsunosuke is at least implied to be an excellent runner, given that he spends a good chunk of an evening literally racing all over Shimabara to find Tetsu and preserve his virginity. Although done to comedic effect, by the time he does find his brother, he doesn't actually appear tired at all. Additionally, Tatsu is actually something of a natural when it comes to shooting a gun; Tetsu remarks he's really good at the shooting game at the Gion festival, and when we see him take an actual shot in the manga, he shoots off a soldier's hat without actually hitting him-something akin to the infamous William Tell shot. He also knows enough about swordsmanship to at least recognize basic stances; in Tetsu's first spar with Okita, Tatsu pinpoints the moment when Okita shifts his stance and becomes serious. And of course, it must be pointed out that the boy can drink like a fish; when he goes out with Shinpachi and Sanosuke, the restaurant owner remarks that he's never had a customer order so much as Tatsunosuke. Then, when they finish, Tatsu is outside long enough for the other two to pay their tab before he starts to sober up.
Mentally Tatsu is actually pretty intelligent, though not in terms of battle strategy or the like. He's an excellent accountant and seen to be very studious when he sets his mind to something. When he decides to get a gun, he teaches himself everything about maintenance and operation from manuals. He's also at least implied to be fluent in the English language, as he's seen correcting both Tetsu and Ryouma. In that time in Japan, that particular skill was incredibly rare, although Tatsu himself doesn't make a big deal out of it.
In terms of emotions, Tatsu is incredibly humble; he'd have to be in order to kowtow as often as he does. He doesn't have grand goals or desires; he just wants to live a decent live, and provide for his brother. To that end, he's unafraid to make a spectacle if that's what it takes to keep Tetsunosuke out of trouble. He's also fairly good at keeping his actual emotions in check outside of extreme situations-in regards to his parent's deaths, for example, Tatsunosuke doesn't break down at all, instead understanding that he has to take up their role as Tetsu's provider. He's also not so arrogant or proud as to only demand work that's suited for him-he is happy to be hired as an accountant, but prior to that, he works as a laborer, which he has no talent at, because it's what he has to do in order to put food on the table. Particularly when it comes to Tetsunosuke, Tatsu is determined and willing to do whatever it takes for his brother's sake.
Weaknesses: Despite being among the best swordsmen of his era, Tatsunosuke is very much not a fighter. The one time we see him try to throw a punch, it’s easily blocked. Additionally, Tetsunosuke talks about how Tatsu took care of them both for years by doing physical labor which he wasn’t at all good at. And on top of that, Tatsunosuke also has a healthy ulcer growing in his stomach, due to how much he worries, which is painful enough to send him to his knees at times. Ultimately, on the scale of physical ability, Tatsunosuke falls right around average normal.
Both mentally and emotionally, Tatsunosuke's largest weakness is his devotion to his brother. While this loyalty has served him well in a practical sense, it's also the floodgate holding back all the grief and sorrow over his parent's deaths. He claims to have gotten over the loss in the series, but several instances clearly show otherwise. Tatsu makes a habit of running to watch every house fire he hears about, which he himself recognizes as a sign that he's not over the trauma. The one time we see him get truly angry in the series (as opposed to the dozens of times he gets irritated over Tetsu's misbehavior) is when Susumu calls Tetsu a coward for not coming out to fight the Choushuu, despite all his prior boasting that he would do anything to do so. As Susumu points out, it's actually rooted in the fact that Tatsu is happy Tetsu is stunted-not because he wants his brother to suffer, but because Tatsu needs to be able to protect Tetsu. As Tetsu has grown since that event, Tatsu has become increasingly aware of his own lacking and uselessness, but at the same time hasn't actually tried to deal with his own lingering issues. Instead, he turned to gunmanship, becoming about as obsessed with learning how to use and care for the gun as he was for Tetsu, to a point that even his brother thinks he's acting strange. In the end, Tatsu may very well still break down (and likely does in a future canon point, but an English translation isn't available for this yet).
Samples (ALL samples must be set in Luceti-verse.)
First Person: [The camera turns on to show an uncertain looking young man; he's not quite used to the journal system yet. When he's positive the thing is broadcasting, Tatsu clears his throat.]
Um, excuse me? I really hate interrupting everyone like this, but I'm afraid it's a bit necessary. My name is Ichimura Tatsunosuke, a resident here with all of you. I was taking care of some chores around the house I live in, and apparently the latch on the bird pen is broken, so I'm afraid our chocobo sort of…escaped.
[He laughs, obviously a bit nervous, then bows deeply to the camera.]
Okita-san, I'll replace the candy you had hidden from everyone else. Also, Saizou may be a bit upset, but he only got stepped on once, at least? And Ayumu-san, please don't be too angry. I'll redo the laundry as soon as Tammy's back. I'll also get everything you need to start dinner over, or I'll even do it myself if you'd like. Honestly, I only had the door open for a few minutes to bring in groceries…
[But as viewers may note, Tatsunosuke isn't actually in a house at the moment-in fact, that's the fountain in the background, isn't it? It might be hard to tell, as a loud crash off screen suddenly makes Tatsu jerk, his head shooting up as he looks toward one of the shops. And now he's going pale.]
….oh no. [At this point he just drops to the ground, the journal falling in front of him as he takes to his hands and knees.] To everyone else, I am truly very sorry! I know it's not much, but please accept my most humble apologies, especially if you've been in the bakery, the items store, or the clothing place in the last half hour or so. Really, Tammy is just a harmless animal who doesn't know any better! She's scared and acting on instinct as animals are prone to do, and she doesn't understand the consequences of her actions! So please, if you find her, don't take your anger out on the poor, innocent creature merely lost out and alone in a world she doesn't know, unable to find her way back home to the people who love and care for her! Lashing out at someone's pet, even one as unruly and wild as Tammy gets when she's frightened like this would be cruel, even if it's well deserved for all the trouble she's caused!
[There's another crash. Sounds like something broke this time. Time to wrap this up, quickly.]
I thank you all for your understanding and patience, which is undeserved but still greatly appreciated. [And Tatsu's off, leaving the journal behind as he races to catch one overgrown chicken.]
TAAAAAAMMYYYYYYY
Third Person: Tatsunosuke went to bed that night feeling good about the day. The bookkeeping had been remarkably ordinary-always a plus in Tatsu's book-and his work on the gun was coming along well. He'd even managed to sneak away long enough to fire a few test shots without being caught by anyone. Best of all, Tetsu was doing well, not causing anyone so much grief or trouble that his older brother felt the urge to drop to his knees and beg their dead parents' forgiveness for raising such an errant child. All in all, Tatsu was entirely satisfied when he'd laid down, maybe even optimistic about what tomorrow promised.
That had to be the reason that the world had gone completely insane by the time he opened his eyes again, didn't it?
The Shinsengumi barracks weren't the most comfortable housing in the world, but it was better than sleeping on the ground-which was exactly where Tatsunosuke found himself the next morning. Outside, in the grass, with enough pain in his back to make him think that he'd slept on a pile of rocks. He sat up slowly, moving a hand to his head as he grumbled. "Tetsunosuke, this better not be your idea of a joke." His younger brother usually deserved the blame when it came to things like this, and Tatsu definitely wouldn't put it past him. Maybe that was his reason for being so well-behaved yesterday. Knowing him, he might have even roped Yamazaki into helping too. A combination of drugs and ninja skills would explain why Tatsunosuke hadn't woken up in the middle of being carried into the woods.
But still, just how far out had they left him? Tatsu couldn't see the temple anywhere, or any signs of the city at all. In fact, the first thing that wasn't forest he caught sight of only made things worse: something pale and feathery just over his shoulder. Tatsu jerked around with a start, expecting to see a massive bird or something right behind him, except there wasn't anything there.
Weird.
"Hey, Tetsu!" Tatsunosuke called out louder this time, his frustration increasing by the minute. "This isn't funny you know. What do you expect me to tell my boss if I'm late to work because of this? Or worse, what if they think I'm trying to leave the Shinsengumi and make me commit seppuku, huh?" Honestly, Tetsu just didn't think about these things! Just because he was finally doing well as Hijikata-san's page wasn't license to do whatever he pleased. Other people had jobs that mattered too, including accountants. But Tetsu still wasn't coming out-in fact, Tatsu couldn't even hear him giggling somewhere, which was odd. Still, younger brother would probably be laughing it up when Tatsunosuke finally made it back to headquarters, right up until the point that older brother taught him a lesson. Tetsunosuke may have grown like a weed in the past several months, but that didn't mean he couldn't be disciplined anymore.
But before he could teach Tetsu that lesson, he had to get back. Tatsunosuke let out a groan as he moved to his feet, feeling far older than his years just then. His back really did hurt too much, even for having spent most of the night outside. Maybe Yamazaki had something to help with the pain; Tatsunosuke dreaded the thought of crouching over his abacus all day otherwise.
Name: Tad
Livejournal Username: tadity
E-mail: tad(dot)coast(at)gmail(dot)com
AIM/MSN: aim: tadity
Current Characters at Luceti: Homura screwthegods, Mihai Mihailov whichwayagain, Amelia thedicearecast, Vincent Nightray forbrotherslove
Character
Name: Ichimura Tatsunosuke
Fandom: Peacemaker Kurogane
Gender: Male
Age: Unknown, but I’d say about 21
Time Period: PMK volume 5 chapter 1
Wing Color: Pale pink with a red blotch on the left wing.
History: The world of 19th century Japan: the dwindling days before the end of the Tokugawa era saw the first sparks of war that would change the fate of the nation. One of the major issues of the time was Japan's interaction with outside nations. Many people wanted nothing to do with foreigners, while others saw Japan's isolationist policies as impossible to maintain--and a few people simply wanted to maintain peace in whatever manner they could. One such person was Ichimura Ryuunosuke, who became known as Ichimura the Peacemaker for his way of calming potentially volatile situations as he translated languages for people otherwise unable to understand each other. Instead of exact translations, Ryuunosuke would misconstrue the often arrogant or angry intent of people in order to maintain peace. When he wasn't on foreign soil, Ryuunosuke would attempt to instill these values to his two sons: Tatsunosuke, the elder and usually more serious and responsible brother, and Tetsunosuke, younger, idealistic, and unstoppably energetic.
Someone saw Ryuunosuke's practices as a threat, however. While Tatsunosuke (then about 16 or 17) was away from the home, a man Ryuunosuke identified as Choushuu rebel attacked his parents' home, killing both of the parents and setting the house on fire. While the brothers had both survived, Tetsunosuke was severely psychologically damaged: he not only witnessed the beheading of both his parents, but smelled their bodies burning as he hid in a closet. As a result, Tetsu physically stopped aging from that point forward. Tatsunosuke assumed a different role, as his responsible nature kept his grief in check enough to allow the pair to survive. Tatsu devoted himself to being Tetsu's caretaker, doing everything in his power to see to Tetsunosuke's well-being, including taking labor jobs he was no good at. A bit of good fortune seemed to come their way, however, as after two years, Tatsunosuke was hired by the Shinsengumi as an accountant.
There was only one problem: Tetsunosuke. Eager to learn the sword to take revenge for his family, the boy joined the Shinsengumi as well, placed in the role of Vice Commander Hijikata Toshiro's page. The only consolation Tatsu had was that the role should have kept Tetsu from actual danger, even if he practiced swordsmanship with Okita Souji. Tatsu himself didn't wish to seek revenge for his parents, or any sort of power. He's content to live as a humble bookkeeper, doing his best to keep Tetsu from getting himself killed. His constant hope is that nothing worse than his own stomach ulcers will plague the brothers from that point on.
Unfortunately, between Tetsunosuke's stubbornness and fate itself, Tatsu simply wouldn't have his way. From his failed attempts at becoming a spy to prove himself more worthy than Yamazaki Susumu to his boisterous introduction to Yamanami Keisuke (Tatsunosuke's boss), Tetsu seemed determined to work Tatsu's every nerve into an early grave. Perhaps the worst was when, in an attempt to cheer Tetsu's spirits (or so the story goes), Yamanami takes Tetsunosuke to Shimabara, in the red light district of Kyoto-and all that it implied. In order to preserve his brother's honor, Tatsunosuke took off running after them, and asked for his brother at every single brothel he comes to until he finds the right one. His relief-based weeping and introduction to Kitamura Suzu and Saya, Tetsu's friends, were interrupted by the arrival of Yoshida Toushimaro, who instructed Suzu (his page) to get away from Tetsu, referring to him as a filthy creature. A second encounter with Yoshida and Suzu shortly after leaves Tetsu traumatized, as he was once again forced to hide in a closet of an abandoned house which Yoshida set on fire, while Yoshida tried to kill him. Suzu defied his master long enough to keep Tetsu alive until people began to notice the fire, at which point they fled. Tatsunosuke, who had been praying at his parents' graves, also noticed the smoke and went to see-something he noted as his bad habit. Prompted by a sense of foreboding, Tatsu soaked himself and rushed into the house in time to save Tetsu, although he was attacked by his younger brother out of sheer terror. Tetsu was left scared and speechless even as the Shinsengumi sortied to raid a meeting of Choushuu leaders, until Susumu yelled at him for being a coward. Tatsunosuke overheard this and tried to punch Susumu in anger, but his punch was easily blocked. Susumu then called Tatsunosuke's true motives into question, claiming that he actually wanted his brother remain stunted.
Despite all this, Tetsu had grown both as a swordsman and as a person, and came to a resolution that finally broke through the psychological barrier keeping him from aging by going to fight at Ikedaya. As Tetsu continued to develop, Tatsunosuke felt useless to do anything for his brother. His rapid growth meant that even the pants Tatsu tried to lengthen for Tetsu were too short before he could try them on. But then the brothers met a man by the name of Sakamoto Ryouma, who used a weapon still relatively new in Japan: a gun. Because a gun was so much easier to wield than a sword, even someone like Tatsu could use it-which was the very reason Ryouma warned Tatsu not to, or else he'd end up pointing that gun at the person he wanted to protect most. Ryouma instead wished Tatsu and Tetsu to join his side, and to aim for peace just as their father had. Tatsunosuke made two things very clear over his encounters with Ryouma, the first being that unlike his father, he held no concern for the state of the world or the country, but only for the well-being of his family. The second was his resolve to never point a gun at Tetsu, which remained strong enough for Tatsunosuke to purchase a rifle. Finally convinced he could do something for Tetsu, Tatsunosuke's spirits lifted-and this is the point I am taking him from.
Personality: Tatsunosuke sums up his personality pretty well himself, in a talk with Okita: Being an orphan has helped me develop a forward-thinking way of living. There isn't time to sigh over yesterday's tragedy when you must work today for tomorrow's food. Do you understand? I don't think about my parents. I only think about money. Really…I'm a terrible son. The one honor I can offer them is to raise Tetsu to be a proper adult.
While Tatsu has always been more serious than his father or his brother (as seen when he tattles on them for playing with the offerings as a child), the death of his parents and the resultant psychological trauma of his brother forced Tatsunosuke to step up in a big and ultimately detrimental way. He literally devotes his entire life to raising and caring for Tetsu, no matter what he has to do. This includes manual labor and cooking, neither of which Tatsunosuke is particularly good at, but he goes at it whole-heartedly…which is ultimately the problem. Tatsunosuke is so focused on caring for Tetsu that his own reactions to his parents' deaths are held back and suppressed. In that sense, Tatsunosuke is even more stunted than his brother; Tetsu is able to come to a resolution, but Tatsu becomes increasingly depressed as Tetsu grows, both taller and more self-reliant. Additionally, Tatsunosuke maintains his habit of always running to a house fire whenever he sees smoke. Understanding this makes Tatsu aware of his own failings, though he doesn't take the healthy route of actually dealing with his parents' deaths. Instead, he remains determined to protect Tetsu even as the younger brother fights, and takes up the gun. In this sense, Tatsu arguably hasn't developed much at all, though he is forced to accept his younger brother's growth. He just can't look away from his goal of raising Tetsu well.
In terms of day to day, Tatsunosuke largely tries to stay unnoticed and out of trouble. He tells Ryouma that the fate of the world, the country, and the Shogunate aren't his concern, and he means it. Tatsunosuke doesn't think about the past, but he also doesn't think about the distant future-he simply focuses on what he has to do to survive. With a rambunctious brother like Tetsu, particularly in the early series, this isn't so simple, and much of Tatsunosuke's time is spent running after Tetsu and apologizing for his messes. In this Tatsu is very animated, and quick to throw himself to the ground and beg forgiveness. This doesn't make him a doormat, however. In one instance, he uses his begging to basically shame a man into being unable to violently lash out at Tetsu and Suzu for cutting off the sleeve of his clothing. In another, he calmly and politely asks three captains of the Shinsengumi to not fool with Tetsu in the future, leaving the trio feeling so awkward that they agree to comply. He uses his words to accomplish his purpose, and proves to be fairly clever and quick thinking in this regard. Yet despite how quick he is to humble himself when the need arises, Tatsunosuke doesn't typically open himself up to others in regards to his personal feelings. This leaves others worried and surprised when Tatsunosuke does express himself, though it takes either a great deal of trauma or a lot of sake for that to happen. Despite how often he's flailing, weeping, and bowing, Tatsunosuke actually is pretty good at maintaining control over himself when he's around others. In the rare instances when he's comfortable around a person, he will speak frankly to them-though depending on what he says, he may be embarrassed about it afterward.
Hands down, most of Tatsunosuke's time is spent worrying over his brother, to the point that he will neglect his work to spy on Tetsu, despite knowing better. Then, when Tetsu develops to the point that Tatsu can't do this directly, he turns his obsession to his gun to such a degree that even Tetsu is worried. When interacting with Tetsu, Tatsu is often strict and overbearing, although he means well. Even later on, when Tetsu clearly knows what he's doing while escorting Saya, Tatsu gives him the most basic of instructions in keeping her safe. Notably, the treatment has lightened up since the start of the series, although this is likely due in part to the fact that Tetsu doesn't argue about it so much in return.
Strengths: Physically, Tatsunosuke is at least implied to be an excellent runner, given that he spends a good chunk of an evening literally racing all over Shimabara to find Tetsu and preserve his virginity. Although done to comedic effect, by the time he does find his brother, he doesn't actually appear tired at all. Additionally, Tatsu is actually something of a natural when it comes to shooting a gun; Tetsu remarks he's really good at the shooting game at the Gion festival, and when we see him take an actual shot in the manga, he shoots off a soldier's hat without actually hitting him-something akin to the infamous William Tell shot. He also knows enough about swordsmanship to at least recognize basic stances; in Tetsu's first spar with Okita, Tatsu pinpoints the moment when Okita shifts his stance and becomes serious. And of course, it must be pointed out that the boy can drink like a fish; when he goes out with Shinpachi and Sanosuke, the restaurant owner remarks that he's never had a customer order so much as Tatsunosuke. Then, when they finish, Tatsu is outside long enough for the other two to pay their tab before he starts to sober up.
Mentally Tatsu is actually pretty intelligent, though not in terms of battle strategy or the like. He's an excellent accountant and seen to be very studious when he sets his mind to something. When he decides to get a gun, he teaches himself everything about maintenance and operation from manuals. He's also at least implied to be fluent in the English language, as he's seen correcting both Tetsu and Ryouma. In that time in Japan, that particular skill was incredibly rare, although Tatsu himself doesn't make a big deal out of it.
In terms of emotions, Tatsu is incredibly humble; he'd have to be in order to kowtow as often as he does. He doesn't have grand goals or desires; he just wants to live a decent live, and provide for his brother. To that end, he's unafraid to make a spectacle if that's what it takes to keep Tetsunosuke out of trouble. He's also fairly good at keeping his actual emotions in check outside of extreme situations-in regards to his parent's deaths, for example, Tatsunosuke doesn't break down at all, instead understanding that he has to take up their role as Tetsu's provider. He's also not so arrogant or proud as to only demand work that's suited for him-he is happy to be hired as an accountant, but prior to that, he works as a laborer, which he has no talent at, because it's what he has to do in order to put food on the table. Particularly when it comes to Tetsunosuke, Tatsu is determined and willing to do whatever it takes for his brother's sake.
Weaknesses: Despite being among the best swordsmen of his era, Tatsunosuke is very much not a fighter. The one time we see him try to throw a punch, it’s easily blocked. Additionally, Tetsunosuke talks about how Tatsu took care of them both for years by doing physical labor which he wasn’t at all good at. And on top of that, Tatsunosuke also has a healthy ulcer growing in his stomach, due to how much he worries, which is painful enough to send him to his knees at times. Ultimately, on the scale of physical ability, Tatsunosuke falls right around average normal.
Both mentally and emotionally, Tatsunosuke's largest weakness is his devotion to his brother. While this loyalty has served him well in a practical sense, it's also the floodgate holding back all the grief and sorrow over his parent's deaths. He claims to have gotten over the loss in the series, but several instances clearly show otherwise. Tatsu makes a habit of running to watch every house fire he hears about, which he himself recognizes as a sign that he's not over the trauma. The one time we see him get truly angry in the series (as opposed to the dozens of times he gets irritated over Tetsu's misbehavior) is when Susumu calls Tetsu a coward for not coming out to fight the Choushuu, despite all his prior boasting that he would do anything to do so. As Susumu points out, it's actually rooted in the fact that Tatsu is happy Tetsu is stunted-not because he wants his brother to suffer, but because Tatsu needs to be able to protect Tetsu. As Tetsu has grown since that event, Tatsu has become increasingly aware of his own lacking and uselessness, but at the same time hasn't actually tried to deal with his own lingering issues. Instead, he turned to gunmanship, becoming about as obsessed with learning how to use and care for the gun as he was for Tetsu, to a point that even his brother thinks he's acting strange. In the end, Tatsu may very well still break down (and likely does in a future canon point, but an English translation isn't available for this yet).
Samples (ALL samples must be set in Luceti-verse.)
First Person: [The camera turns on to show an uncertain looking young man; he's not quite used to the journal system yet. When he's positive the thing is broadcasting, Tatsu clears his throat.]
Um, excuse me? I really hate interrupting everyone like this, but I'm afraid it's a bit necessary. My name is Ichimura Tatsunosuke, a resident here with all of you. I was taking care of some chores around the house I live in, and apparently the latch on the bird pen is broken, so I'm afraid our chocobo sort of…escaped.
[He laughs, obviously a bit nervous, then bows deeply to the camera.]
Okita-san, I'll replace the candy you had hidden from everyone else. Also, Saizou may be a bit upset, but he only got stepped on once, at least? And Ayumu-san, please don't be too angry. I'll redo the laundry as soon as Tammy's back. I'll also get everything you need to start dinner over, or I'll even do it myself if you'd like. Honestly, I only had the door open for a few minutes to bring in groceries…
[But as viewers may note, Tatsunosuke isn't actually in a house at the moment-in fact, that's the fountain in the background, isn't it? It might be hard to tell, as a loud crash off screen suddenly makes Tatsu jerk, his head shooting up as he looks toward one of the shops. And now he's going pale.]
….oh no. [At this point he just drops to the ground, the journal falling in front of him as he takes to his hands and knees.] To everyone else, I am truly very sorry! I know it's not much, but please accept my most humble apologies, especially if you've been in the bakery, the items store, or the clothing place in the last half hour or so. Really, Tammy is just a harmless animal who doesn't know any better! She's scared and acting on instinct as animals are prone to do, and she doesn't understand the consequences of her actions! So please, if you find her, don't take your anger out on the poor, innocent creature merely lost out and alone in a world she doesn't know, unable to find her way back home to the people who love and care for her! Lashing out at someone's pet, even one as unruly and wild as Tammy gets when she's frightened like this would be cruel, even if it's well deserved for all the trouble she's caused!
[There's another crash. Sounds like something broke this time. Time to wrap this up, quickly.]
I thank you all for your understanding and patience, which is undeserved but still greatly appreciated. [And Tatsu's off, leaving the journal behind as he races to catch one overgrown chicken.]
TAAAAAAMMYYYYYYY
Third Person: Tatsunosuke went to bed that night feeling good about the day. The bookkeeping had been remarkably ordinary-always a plus in Tatsu's book-and his work on the gun was coming along well. He'd even managed to sneak away long enough to fire a few test shots without being caught by anyone. Best of all, Tetsu was doing well, not causing anyone so much grief or trouble that his older brother felt the urge to drop to his knees and beg their dead parents' forgiveness for raising such an errant child. All in all, Tatsu was entirely satisfied when he'd laid down, maybe even optimistic about what tomorrow promised.
That had to be the reason that the world had gone completely insane by the time he opened his eyes again, didn't it?
The Shinsengumi barracks weren't the most comfortable housing in the world, but it was better than sleeping on the ground-which was exactly where Tatsunosuke found himself the next morning. Outside, in the grass, with enough pain in his back to make him think that he'd slept on a pile of rocks. He sat up slowly, moving a hand to his head as he grumbled. "Tetsunosuke, this better not be your idea of a joke." His younger brother usually deserved the blame when it came to things like this, and Tatsu definitely wouldn't put it past him. Maybe that was his reason for being so well-behaved yesterday. Knowing him, he might have even roped Yamazaki into helping too. A combination of drugs and ninja skills would explain why Tatsunosuke hadn't woken up in the middle of being carried into the woods.
But still, just how far out had they left him? Tatsu couldn't see the temple anywhere, or any signs of the city at all. In fact, the first thing that wasn't forest he caught sight of only made things worse: something pale and feathery just over his shoulder. Tatsu jerked around with a start, expecting to see a massive bird or something right behind him, except there wasn't anything there.
Weird.
"Hey, Tetsu!" Tatsunosuke called out louder this time, his frustration increasing by the minute. "This isn't funny you know. What do you expect me to tell my boss if I'm late to work because of this? Or worse, what if they think I'm trying to leave the Shinsengumi and make me commit seppuku, huh?" Honestly, Tetsu just didn't think about these things! Just because he was finally doing well as Hijikata-san's page wasn't license to do whatever he pleased. Other people had jobs that mattered too, including accountants. But Tetsu still wasn't coming out-in fact, Tatsu couldn't even hear him giggling somewhere, which was odd. Still, younger brother would probably be laughing it up when Tatsunosuke finally made it back to headquarters, right up until the point that older brother taught him a lesson. Tetsunosuke may have grown like a weed in the past several months, but that didn't mean he couldn't be disciplined anymore.
But before he could teach Tetsu that lesson, he had to get back. Tatsunosuke let out a groan as he moved to his feet, feeling far older than his years just then. His back really did hurt too much, even for having spent most of the night outside. Maybe Yamazaki had something to help with the pain; Tatsunosuke dreaded the thought of crouching over his abacus all day otherwise.