Oh, Nuriko-sama, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
No other character (literary, live-action, or animated) has inspired me quite like Nuriko has. He's the force behind my friendship with my love. Everything good about it I dedicate to him. ^_^

Profile:
Full Real Name: Chou Ryuuen (also called Celine)
Seishi Name: Nuriko
First appears in: Episode 3 of the anime series
Birthplace: Eiyou, capital city of Konan country
Age and Birthday: 18, born March 10
Blood Type: B
Height: 166 cm --> 5'5"
Family: Mother, father, older brother, younger sister
Seishi Power: Superhuman strength
Seishi Character: The kanji for "Yanagi" (Willow), located just above his heart
Hair Color: Purple (my favorite color)
Eye Color: Hazel

Personality:
Mother, brother, sister, lover, best friend and confidante. Source of information, a good joke, and an exciting outing every once in a while. These descriptions and many more apply to Nuriko.
I must confess that I didn't really realize until I'd seen most of the series just how much Nuriko is there for Miaka and the other shichiseishi: He's a fountain of information (presumably a product of his upbringing as a merchant's son and later as a court princess); He keeps a fairly cool head in crises (in this respect I feel that he's comparable to Chichiri); And he's a great confidante as well (as opposed to Chichiri's role which I feel is more like an advisor). At one point Tamahome noted that Nuriko was like a big brother, and I agree completely. I would say that he is a bit like a mother figure, even. Ahhh...and then there's the teasing. Always good-natured, a little sarcastic sometimes, and always ready to turn it back on himself if need be. Nuriko reminds me of me in that respect; I tease the ones I love the most. Nuriko just has that infectious spark of light in his actions and personality that brings those around him to life!

Some of those who Nuriko loves the most:
Hotohori
When we first meet Nuriko, s/he is enamored of Hotohori. The reasons for his attraction and the implications thereof contain spoilers, so I can't go into them here. In spite of Nuriko's obvious feelings for Hotohori and his attempts to flirt, hint, and fawn over him, Hotohori doesn't seem to recognize the fact (whether or not he knows and simply doesn't acknowledge it can be debated. I personally do believe that Hotohori was ignorant of Nuriko's feelings, simply because I don't think it is in Hotohori's nature to string somebody along like that -- after all, he knows full well what unrequited love feels like). As I recall, the two never really interact a whole lot in the series. I can't remember a time when the two were together discussing something or just having a moment. Of course, moments may have happened off camera that we don't know about. I believe that the two were pretty good friends despite the lack of concrete evidence. At any rate, due to their proximity and possibly because Nuriko had been at the palace as a court princess for a year before, they share some kind of closeness. Perhaps their mutual isolation draws them together somehow...

Tamahome
*smile* Things don't exactly start off on the right foot with Nuriko and Tamahome. I would imagine that there are worse things than having a beautiful court princess kiss you for no reason, as what happened when Nuriko and Tamahome first met. However, that encounter might have turned slightly sour upon Tamahome discovering Nuriko's little "secret." ^_^ Yet these two develop such a close and devoted friendship. Tamahome brings out the motherly, protective side of Nuriko. Nuriko likes to take care of people, and Tamahome, in his own way, needs to be taken care of. Fortunately Tamahome recognizes and appreciates this, and their friendship is one of the closer ones in the series -- at least as far as I recall at the moment.

Tasuki
For whatever reason, Tasuki and Nuriko become quite close over the course of the series. I like to think that Nuriko simply enjoys keeping Tasuki in line, but they obviously enjoy each other's company as well. They both are excellent conspirators, so I suppose that they go well together in that respect ^_^. I guess they just have a lot in common personality-wise and so are drawn to each other...but I can't put into words just now what those similarities are *sweat drops*.

Miaka
Ah...Miaka. Well, Nuriko's views on Miaka change quite a bit during the series, now don't they ^_^? Though he first sees her only as an obstacle in gaining Hotohori's affection, Nuriko quickly comes to terms with his duties as a Suzaku Seishi, and becomes close friends with his Miko. Miaka also brings out a protective side of Nuriko, much like Tamahome. But note that this is a more protective than motherly side to Nuriko (read: more masculine). He can sit with Tamahome and hear out, whereas with Miaka -- sometimes he just has to *hold* her. (And it's so sweet when he does!) His love and devotion for Suzaku no Miko shows through in many ways over the course of the series.

An interesting quote: "So I'm a man. So what? My mind is female."

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Last updated 03/01/03