Oni (鬼, Demons), also known as Demons or Devils, are a humanoid race coexisting with humans, possessed of superhuman speed, strength, and regenerative abilities. In their true forms, they have white hair, golden eyes, pointed ears, and a number of small white horns between two and four. Even in their normal guises, however, they are still much more powerful than humans.
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In the anime
Demons are mysterious guests from the shadows who help the Satchō Alliance in their most difficult moments. Little is known about their intentions or allegiances, except for the fact that Chikage desires Chizuru as his bride due to them both being rare pure-blooded oni who can breed powerful children. He does not consider Chizuru's opinion on the matter and goes as far as attempting to kidnap her by knocking her out. Amagiri and Shiranui's assistance also remains unclear as they are shown as parts of opposing ideologies at first (or rather helping clans representing opposing ideologies) which later ally their forces.
Demons express their resentment towards the humanity quite vividly (especially Kazama) and prefer not to interfere with their affairs any more than their Domain requires. Whenever Kazama's interaction with the Shinsengumi goes too far, Amagiri reprimands him and reminds him to stay away.
Senhime is a female demon who keeps trying to convince Chizuru to follow her and accept her protection. She does not reveal her true intentions apart from keeping Chizuru safe, and her only interactions with other demons happen in OVAs, while in the main story they always appear separately.
In the games
Background
Little is known of the species' origins, history, or exact variations, although the existence of demons from the West (hinted to be vampires through the symptoms of Rasetsu) is mentioned. At some point, a powerful demon known as Shuten-doji was killed, and both his arms were preserved in Senhime's village, Yase.
By the beginning of the story, most demons in Japan have disappeared into hiding to avoid persecution by humans searching for power. However, certain clans were taken under various Domains' protection following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, and their leaders must partake in human politics to repay the debt. Similarly, the people of Yase have been symbiotically affiliated with the imperial court since the 1300s (according to the "A Meeting of Demons" DLC).
Other notable demonic families in Japan include the Kazama, Amagiri, Shiranui, Yukimura, and Nagumo families.
Demon Code
Culturally, demons value honor and honesty especially highly, and they are rarely known to tell lies or break promises. In HakuMyu Kazama-hen, it is revealed that there is a taboo against fighting between demons, possibly to preserve their numbers. Additionally, even those few demons, who involve themselves with humans, prefer staying out of the human history. The ones who stray from this path are exiled from their clans and become known as "Stray Demons" such as Kazama, since (on Hijikata's route) he comes to value revenge on the Shinsengumi's vice-commander more highly than leading his people.
Though this behavior appears to be regarded among demons as common sense in the original, it is officially codified in Hakuōki: Kyoto Winds and Hakuōki: Edo Blossoms as the Demon Code. These laws forbid involvement with humankind, killing other demons, and breaking vows on pain of exile. However, there are exceptions in which demons are allowed to kill their fellow kin, such as executing Koudou and Kaoru for their crimes of endangering both humans and demons as whole.
Besides this, male demons are also shown to have a preoccupation with protecting the females of their kind, as they are both rarer and weaker than the men of their race. According to Kazama's words, demons hold traditions and decorum to a high standard which is why he would not lay a finger on Chizuru before marriage.
Although your wounds can regenerate, your stamina is just as meek as any normal human's would be. Therefore, the female Demons are often left behind in our villages under the watchful protection of the males who ensure their survival.
Demons in Hakuōki
Trivia
- In Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms, the common noun "demon" is rendered "Demon".
- According to Kazama, only one out of every five demons is female.
- There is some discrepancy between the level of involvement demons are permitted to have in human affairs between Shinsengumi Kitan and Kyoto Winds/Edo Blossoms. In the former, demons appear to have a cultural standard of aloofness, but Shiranui and the people of Yase are still allowed to subvert this through voluntary association with humans. However, in the latter two, demons (and those with demon powers, such as Iba) are actively forbidden from affecting human politics in any way.
- This makes the exact limits of the Demon Code somewhat unclear and possibly inconsistent, as some clan leaders must break it in order to repay their debts, and at least two more (Shiranui and Chizuru) associate freely with humans of historical importance with no consequences. In Chizuru's case, it is most likely because she has no clan to return to, and therefore being exiled is of no consequence to her.
- This discrepancy may stem from the Kyoto Winds/Edo Blossoms continuity adopting certain elements of the game Shall We Date: Demons' Bond, stated to be a distant prequel to Hakuōki (but produced by a different company). In this game, demons have an expanded array of magical powers and a much more isolationist political stance as regards humanity.
- Though Kazama claims that female demons have the stamina of human women in his Edo Blossoms route, Kimigiku and Senhime are evenly matched in combat with Koudou and Kaoru, respectively, on Sannan's route. This is most likely because they have received proper training compared to Chizuru.
- It is often stated in-game that demons "disappear", but this description may be taken as a figure of speech. However, in the anime, demons have the ability to teleport (or rather jump/move very quickly that is hardly noticeable but a human eye which is why it looks like teleporting), and the language is clarified in Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms to be more literal as well.
- Demons are susceptible to human illness, as Chizuru falls ill during one of Saitou's Memories of the Shinsengumi. She attributes her quick recovery to being a doctor's daughter, but this is more likely due to her demon heritage.