The villain everybody loves to hate... but can't ^^:

Basic Info:
Full Real Name: No one knows
Seishi Name: Nakago
First Appears: Episode 7? 8? of the anime
Birthplace: Someplace in the West (read: foreign; he's a member of the hated Hin race)
Age and Birthday: 25, no one knows his birthday
Family: None that anyone knows of
Height: 193 cm --> 6'3"
Seishi Ability: Big, powerful, mother Ki blasts; he's really good at that Ki-manipulating stuff
Hair Color: Blond (for real; like, not that anime-blond-where-the-hair's-not-really-blond-but-is-drawn-that-way-for-variety, but rather people actually notice his blond hair)
Eye Color: Blue (really; see above)

Personality:
From Tasuki no Miko's manga translations, here's what Watase Yuu had to say about Nakago:
"Cool, calm, and cruel. Contrary to Nakago meaning "Heart's Lodging", his manipulations and actions make him heartless. Not one to give himself over to emotions, and since his principle is not taking useless actions, he will discard those he doesn't need. He also has a very charismatic nature, and there is a side of him that can captivate one's heart, depending on the person. The truth is his thoughts are a mystery."

All I add to that is:
Okay, I have to say here that the first time, maybe the first two times, I watched FY I really, really hated Nakago. I have always thought of him as the nastiest villain I had ever encountered in an anime (he's still up there, by the way...). But since discussing his character with other FY fans *ahemSeimeiahemJill*, and reading incredible Fics by Jill-sama like Mercy's Gift and Blessings, I now...well, I no longer hate Nakago. I think he's a very complex character and I don't think he's evil. However, I can't excuse his actions, and I don't think that's something I'll ever be able to do. He's undeniably one of the most messed-up characters I've seen, but there are reasons as to why he is the way he is. I rather pity him, actually...he really coulda been somethin' good if his life hadn't been what it was....

Usefulness:

Another very major player in the story, I refer to Nakago as "The Conflict Maker." He is the origin of every stick that is thrown into the spokes of Suzaku no Miko's wheels. He begins by manipulating Yui into taking up the position of Seiryuu no Miko and becoming Miaka's enemy, and well... things progress from there. He keeps the plot going with his ingenius schemes. And for that I am thankful... I think ;-_-.

Thoughts:
Although Nakago may seem like he hasn't got a good bone in his body for much of the series, there are moments when we catch a glimpse of the human inside the Shogun. Witness his startled reactions to the Suzaku Seishi's devotion to their Miko and vice versa, time and time and time again, and you'll have some inkling of why he is the way he is.