Anime- Gallery
- Game
Kaoru Nagumo (ナグモカオル Nagumo Kaoru) is an antagonist in Hakuōki. He is a demon currently in the service of the Tosa domain. However, he is originally from the Yukimura clan, and is Chizuru's elder twin brother.
Contents
|
Personality
This article contains major SPOILERS. Be careful if you do not know the full story yet.
In his childhood, Kaoru was naturally protective of his younger twin sister Chizuru. After the Yukimura village was destroyed, he selflessly went to the Nagumo family, pretending to be Chizuru so that they would leave her alone. However, his adoptive family's anger at his deception and the unspecified abuse that followed warped his mind so that he now believes that his hardships are Chizuru's fault. This is exacerbated by the fact that she does not remember him and therefore cannot acknowledge his sacrifice.
Currently, Kaoru is unbalanced, vengeful, delusional, and sadistic. Having experienced suffering from both humans and demons, Kaoru realized that both species are no different: both can be corrupted by power. He is willing to go to extreme lengths to cause Chizuru pain, with the intention of demonstrating to her the hell he has lived, and does not care how many others are hurt in the process. Despite this, in certain routes, he claims to love Chizuru, and implies that his reason for depriving her of everything else she loves is so that she will understand his suffering and come to love him too.
Background
Nagumo Kaoru is a fictional character. Kaoru was born as Yukimura Kaoru in the Yukimura Village of Mutu, Shirakwaw, with his twin sister, Chizuru. The twins lived a relatively peaceful life and were very close, though he occasionally he harboured some insecurities and jealousy towards Chizuru due to her being coddled, but understood why, since female Oni are rare, having been taught that males Oni were supposed to protect their female counterparts, and that as such, it was his duty to protect his younger sister. Kaoru once got scolded by their real father for taking Chizuru to a meadow to see the flowers, the latter of whom was very disheartened and disappointed when they were forbade from going there alone again. Regardless of how twisted his feelings would later become, Kaoru would later recall how Chizuru would try to comfort him whenever he was sad, smiling through her own tears, assuring him that everything would be ok.
When their village was destroyed, Kaoru recalls desperately calling for Chizuru and leading her to safety by the hand, where soon after they were rescued by their distant relative Yukimura Koudou who took them in. Some time later the Nagumo clan sent a letter specifically to adopt Chizuru. Knowing that Chizuru would likely be mistreated and exploited as a child-bearer, Kaoru instead went in her place out of protectiveness (In Sannan's route, it's revealed that Koudou was actually the one who instigated the massacre on their village and abducted the twins, later deciding to hand Kaoru over to Nagumo). However when Nagumo discovered the deception, Kaoru was severely abused, twisting him into a cruel and resentful person, further fuelling his insecurities whether he'd ever been loved at all.
Sometime shortly before the events of the games, the years of mistreatment he endeared culminated in him killing his abusers, and Kaoru became the head of the clan. Despite Nagumo's previous agreement to stay out of human affairs, Kaoru was intrigued by the conflict going on in the Tosa domain and agreed to work with them of his own volition. This decision earned him and his clan suspicion and disapproval from most other demons. After hearing from Tosa spies that the Shinsengumi had taken in someone by the name of Yukimura, Kaoru was overcome with curiosity and went to Kyoto himself in the hopes of finding his sister. However much to his rage and heartbreak, Chizuru scarcely remembered him and had been living a rather peaceful life while he had been suffering a lifetime of pain and misery.
Later on in the story he joins forces with Koudou to use The Water Of Life and the Ratsetsu to rebuild the Yukimura clan as well as claim vengeance on the people whom he deems responsible for his suffering.
In Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan
Chapter 2
Kaoru is first encountered when Okita and Heisuke drive off some ronin confronting him. Okita notes his resemblance to Chizuru, but since he is dressed as a female with make-up and Chizuru is dressed as a male, Heisuke cannot see their likeness.
Chapter 3
When Harada and his squad are tasked to defend a sign board set by the shogunate from being taken down, Kaoru interferes to allow the Tosa ronins to escape. He's noticed by Harada, who is surprised by his resemblance to Chizuru that he failed to capture the escaping swordsmen. This resulted with Harada to question Chizuru's presence during the incident. The testimonies from other Shinsengumi members immediately cleared Chizuru from any suspicion.
Following this incident, during a patrol, Chizuru notices Kaoru amongst the crowds and question his possible involvement in the incident. Kaoru feigns ignorance, claiming to be somewhere else that night. Okita is highly suspicious and threatens to kill Kaoru, but Chizuru's naivete allows Kaoru to walk away.
Okita's route
Kaoru is the main antagonist of the route.
In DLC, after meeting Chizuru, he once again meet Okita and ask about her well-being. Okita omits certain things and made it sounds like Chizuru is suffering abuse under the Shinsengumi's care. After Okita leaves, Kaoru is able to notice Okita's underlying threat for him not to get in the way of the Shinsengumi. After Harada mistook him as Chizuru during the sign board incident, Kaoru has some Tosa informants to investigate about Chizuru's condition in the Shinsengumi compound. From this investigation, Kaoru realized that Okita has been lying to him, as Chizuru is treated kindly and being protected, which infuriates Kaoru.
Seeing Okita is someone that Chizuru cares for, Kaoru decides to include him in his plan. When Kazama attacks the compound, Kaoru offers a Ochimizu to Okita and reveals himself as Chizuru's twin brother. He pleads for Okita's help to protect Chizuru from Kazama and goads him into drinking the vial by lying that it would heal his tuberculosis. As he hoped, Okita becomes a Rasetsu, and he then reveals his hatred and disdain for Chizuru for living a better life than him, so he wants to make her suffer the same way he did. He then leaves right before a Shinsengumi Rasetsu came into the room.
After Itou Kashitarou was killed, Kaoru approaches the remnants of the Guardians of Imperial Tomb and direct them to shoot Kondo after his return from his meeting. Kondo's shooting causes Okita to look for the people responsible during his night patrol. He meets Kaoru again who admits being responsible for arranging the shooting. When Chizuru arrives, having followed Okita, Kaoru summons his men, ordering them to shoot Chizuru, knowing full-well that Okita would protect her at the cost of himself. He had them use silver bullets, preventing Okita's wounds from healing. He retreats before the rest of the Shinsengumi members arrive.
Following Kondo and Okita's injuries, they, accompanied by Chizuru, moves to Osaka where they can recuperate. Chizuru and Yamazaki visits the former's house, hoping to find Koudou's documents about Rasetsu that may help Okita. Kaoru is waiting at the front door, attacking Yamazaki the moment they came out. He tells Chizuru that the medicine written in the document would only aveliate the bloodlust temporarily and won't help Okita. He instead tells Chizuru that only by drinking blood of pureblood demon that Okita can be saved, explaining that demon blood can counter the poision of Ochimizu.
Kaoru confronts Chizuru and Okita again when they're on their way to rescue Kondo, leading to a fight between him and Okita. Okita's superior swordsmanship corners Kaoru, but he stops Okita from delivering the finishing blow by pointing out that Chizuru is not so heartless that she'll stand still watching her brother dies. Okita's moment of hesitation gives Kaoru an opportunity to forcefully make Chizuru drinks Ochimizu, turning her into a Rasetsu. Kaoru then reveals to Okita that he lied about the vial able to cure his illness and taunts Chizuru that if it weren't for her presence, Okita would've killed him before leaving.
After Chizuru drank the Ochimizu and recovered her childhood memories, Kaoru reveals himself to Chizuru. Happy that now she understands his suffering, making them equal, he offers Chizuru to join him and Koudou so they can create a kingdom for demons. However, they are interrupted by Okita, who refuses to join when Kaoru tried to convince Chizuru by allowing Okita to come with her. Kaoru gives Chizuru some time to contemplate her choice and waits for her at Mutsu, where the Yukimura village used to be.
At the remains of Yukimura village, Kaoru is waiting together with Koudou for Chizuru and Okita. When Chizuru refuses to join them, Kaoru expresses his disappointment and anger for her apparent betrayal, and won't listen to any of her attempt to reason with him. Determined to make both the humans and western demons pay for his suffering, Kaoru drinks Ochimizu to become a Rasetsu before fighting Okita. Both are evenly matched and at stalemate until Chizuru tries to once again reason with Kaoru. Having enough with her attempt, Kaoru attacks Chizuru, but instead slashed Koudou, who protected her. The moment of distraction gives Okita an opening to stab Kaoru's heart, finally killing him. In his dying breath, Kaoru admits that he had long stopped caring about his salvation and all he has is his hatred.
In Hakuōki: Kyoto Winds
Kaoru's involvement in the plot is largely the same as in Shinsengumi Kitan, with the following exceptions.
Chapter 5 (Sannan)
During the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, Chizuru and Inoue are escaping from their enemies until Inoue decided to fight back to allow Chizuru to escape alone. Kaoru helps Chizuru, leading her to where Koudou is. They reveal their plan to restore Yukimura Clan and create country of Rasetsu, and Chizuru is needed for her demon blood purity. When Chizuru refused to help them, they try to take her by force, but is stopped by Sannan. After several banter, Kaoru became annoyed and offended by Sannan's mockeries, attempting to attack him. However, Koudou has him stand down and retreat for the time being.
Chapter 5 (Sakamoto)
Due to his connection with Tosa, Kaoru is acquainted with Sakamoto. He approaches Sakamoto and finds her hanging out with Chizuru. Noticing the developing relationship between the two, Kaoru advises Chizuru not to trust Sakamoto by revealing how he is popular with ladies and how he sold western weapons to both Satsuma and Chosu. Despite his attempt, Chizuru still believes that Sakamoto is a good person at heart, much to Kaoru's disappointment. He then takes Sakamoto back with him, with Chizuru returning to the compound with Yamazaki.
On the night of Sakamoto and Nakaoka's assassination, Kaoru uses the opportunity to revive them by having them drink Ochimizu, turning them into Rasetsu. He then takes them away from the inn before Chizuru and the rest of the Shinsengumi captains could stop them.
Chapter 5 (Kazama)
Kaoru appears before Chizuru and Kazama after the latter saved the former from the Yodo soldiers. After expressing his gratitude to Kazama, he reveals Koudou to Chizuru and how they both are planning to conquer Japan using the Rasetsu, and Chizuru's pure demon blood is needed for their plan. This earned disdain from Kazama who intends to kill them, but is stopped by Chizuru who tries to dissuade them first, but both Kaoru and Koudou refuses to listen. They summon several Rasetsu to fight Kazama while they retreat, giving Chizuru time to think about their proposal.
In Hakuōki: Edo Blossoms
Okita's route
Kaoru's involvement in the plot is the same as in Stories of the Shinsengumi.
Sannan's route
Sana brings Chizuru to Kaoru and Koudou as proof for his intention to work with them. They are attacked by Heisuke, Sen, and Kimigiku who came to rescue Chizuru, but Kaoru and Sannan manage to force them to retreat while Heisuke is seemingly killed. They confined Chizuru within Shirakawa castle in preparation for their plan. One night, Kaoru visits Chizuru and reveals that he is working with Koudou because Koudou promised him to make him the head of Yukimura Clan once they restore their clan. In reality, Kaoru actually doesn't care for Koudou's plan.
After Sannan spoke with Chizuru under Koudou's order, Kaoru brings her out to show that they have captured Sen and Kimigiku to force Chizuru to agree helping Koudou. However, Sannan betrays them at the last minute and has the Shinsengumi Rasetsu attacks Koudou's Rasetsu. Heisuke also reveals himself to be alive, only pretending to be dead and Sen and Kimigiku breaks free from their binds to help. Seeing the opportunity, Kaoru stabs Koudou, revealing how he hates him for abandoning him to the Nagumo Clan that led to his years of abuse. He then shifts his attention to Chizuru, spitefully telling her how it's unfair that she's the only one who can be happy. Kaoru then tries to kill Chizuru, only to be stopped by Sannan and Heisuke. With their joint effort and superior swordsmanship, they manage to kill Kaoru.
Sakamoto's route
Chizuru and Sakamoto confronts Kaoru while investigating Nakaoka and his Rasetsu. Kaoru once again tries to dissuade Chizuru from continuing her relationship with Sakamoto by revealing that the latter became a spy for Tosa Domain and approached her so he can get an information about the Shinsengumi. While Chizuru is surprised, she counters Kaoru's argument by saying that she believes Sakamoto has his reason and she herself initially approached Sakamoto to get information from him. Angered by Chizuru's rejection and resentful of Sakamoto for stealing her heart, Kaoru reveals his true gender and identity as her older twin brother. He tries to persuade Chizuru again by revealing how he sacrificed himself to protect her by going to the Nagumo Clan in her place, hoping it would make her feel guilty. This attempt is stopped by Sakamoto who chides Kaoru for being immature by putting the blame on Chizuru when it was he himself who made the decision, infuriating Kaoru. He fights against Sakamoto, but retreats once the Satsuma soldiers beginning to notice them.
Kaoru and Koudou are waiting for Chizuru at the remains of Yukimura village, where Chizuru once again refuses their offer. Chizuru tries to convince Kaoru not to let his hatred get the better of him and he should find his own happiness, but Kaoru still insists on his revenge. He drinks Ochimizu and fights Sakamoto as a Rasetsu. Sakamoto's hesitation in killing Kaoru as he is Chizuru's brother, gives Kaoru the upper-hand. Just as Kaoru was about to deliver the finishing blow, Shiranui shot through Kaoru's heart, killing him. Before he dies, the dissillusioned Kaoru is searching for Chizuru while overcame by the memory when they escaped from their burning village. Chizuru comforts him by thanking Kaoru for protecting her, allowing Kaoru to die in peace.
Kazama's route
Kaoru dies of a wound Kazama inflicted using Yasutsuna's Demonslayer during the confrontation with Koudou in Edo. Kazama and Chizuru find his body in the ruins of the Yukimura village, and they bury him atop a hill.
In the musicals
Kaoru is portrayed by Suzuki Hiroki in all his HakuMyu appearances.
HakuMyu Okita-hen
- "Yoiyami Aketara Asobimasho"
- "Kyōdai ~ Nite Inai Kai"
- "THE BEAST"
- "Kanaetai Yume ga Arukara Part 1"
- "Kanaetai Yume ga Arukara Part 2"
HakuMyu LIVE
- "Yaisa! Yaisa! Yaisa!"
- "Kyōdai ~ Nite Inai Kai (feat. Koudou)"
- "The Final Battle Medley"
Kaoru is also part of the ensemble in "Kazama Medley".
Trivia
- Like Kazama, Kaoru does not carry a wakizashi.
- The coloration of Kaoru's feminine clothing directly mirrors that of Chizuru's Eastern outfit.
- In Hakuouki: Otogisoushi, Kaoru's repeated attempts to make Chizuru suffer are toned down to simple pranks and then played for laughs as they backfire.
- According to Shall We Date: Demons' Bond canon, the character Yukimura Kazuya is implied to be a distant relative of Chizuru and Kaoru.