Kannagi

Kannagi (カンナギ, Kannagi) is a member of the Twelve Shinshou. He plays as an antagonist during the first few arcs of the series, later on he join Hinohara's group and become one of the main character. He is the Shinshou of Fire who wields the blazing Hayagami, Homura.

Appearance
Kannagi has long white hair and amber colored eyes. His Twelve Shinshou symbol is located on his forehead. He wears a short sleeved jacket that is held together by a clamp on his chest and a gauntlet on his shoulder. He wears shorts that reach his knees. Kannagi is usually displayed as haughty, in a higher-than-thou attitude.

Personality
Kannagi is extremely hot-headed and can be easily annoyed. Kannagi's fiery temper is a pun of his hayagami, Homura. His arrogance is a joke in the series since, even after losing his Hayagami, he claims he will beat Arata. He also tends to misinterprets things people explain to him and usally twists their words around to benefit his needs. Kannagi is also quite knowledgeable about Hayagami and the environment; and will sometimes lend helpful advice to the group on how to avoid getting into trouble. Of course, Kannagi doesn't always willingly offer advice since he frequently points out he only joined them to get Homura back. Kannagi acts as an older brother figure to Hinohara's group and serves as Hinohara's mentor. Kannagi does care for his friends, but chooses to hide his concern under a veil of arrogance and indifference. He does get slightly embarassed whenever someone mentions him doing something honorable and does feel guilty over his intial antagonism towards Hinohara and Kotoha. Kannagi is sometimes displayed as misogynistic when he refuses a job of helping women bathe since it was a woman's job to bathe him. Ironically, Kannagi's relationship with fellow Shinshou, Akachi, mirrors Arata and Kadowaki. Despite some of the cruel deeds Akachi performed, Kannagi forgives him since Akachi has been both his most loyal and trusted friend since childhood. Overall, Kannagi is a multifaceted character, he wants to be the good guy but doesn't always make the wisest decisions.

History
Kannagi's past is slowly revealed throughout the course of the series. A small portion of his past is shown when he rescues Hinohara and Kotoha, after losing his hayagami to Akachi, from a fire because he believes they are someone called Emisu. His shoulder begins burning to which Hinohara comments is unusual since Kannagi is the wielder of the fire hayagami. Kannagi mistakes Kotoha for Emisu and proceeds knocking Hinohara over to search for her. After realizing it was just vision of the past, Kannagi shows remorse over the fact that the girl he treasured called Emisu was killed in a wildfire, many years prior, after he became bedridden for three days and became incapable of moving about. Kannagi, anguished over her lost, tries to commit suicide when the god Homura chooses him as its wielder and proclaims that through the hayagami he would always be able to see Emisu.

More disclosure of his past is provided when he confronts Akachi for the murder of his zokushou, where their stories are shown to be intertwined since childhood. Kannagi had been the son of a local vassal, as presented, during a trip to the market where the father and son go to visit the accursed slaves, who carried grave sins the sellers claimed, he sees Akachi and Emisu being sold amongst the bids. Something about the slaves interested Kannagi and he pleads with his father to purchase them. After being purchased, Kannagi proceeds telling the children that they will live under his father now and that they are safe. Though Kannagi and Akachi start off on a rocky friendship, the two quickly grow to become like brothers with the gentle presence of Emisu keeping them in line whenever their sparring practices turned too aggressive. As Kannagi grew older, he begins to develop feelings for Emisu, but her feelings are directed towards Akachi whom she doesn't realize is her half-brother. Kannagi voices these feelings to Akachi who tells the young man he is fine with his growing affections towards his younger sister.

Their quiet existence is shattered when the wielder of Okoro dies and a revolution breaks out amongst the citizens over who should become the wielder. During some of the fighting, a random group of robbers stumble upon Kannagi's land where they find a defenseless Emisu. Akachi is unable to save her from the robbers since the chains binding them keep them at 50 feet from one another. Luckily, Kannagi manages to come to her aid right before things became worse. Akachi is bittered over being stuck within his small portion of land by the 50 feet rule and that while they're grateful towards his father for purchasing them, they are not truly happy. While he laments to Kannagi, the young man burdened by his guilt finally reveals that he is in fact the one who had purchased them and was their owner all along.

After revealing the truth to Akachi, the revolt worsens. Kannagi's father is murdered by the workers and the three wind up fleeing to escape getting killed themselves. However, they are ambused by the villagers, Akachi choses to stay behind and face the villagers but not before making Kannagi promise to protect Emisu and get her to safety. Kannagi and Emisu are forced into watching Akachi confront the villagers as they are transported away to safety. Kannagi does his best to protect the young woman, but unfortunately they were only able to stay together for a short period of time before Emisu died in the wildfire.

When Akachi and Kannagi are finally reunited they have both become shinshou, but several years have already gone by. Kanngi saddenly tells Akachi he wasn't able to keep Emisu protected like he promised and thus Akachi's building animosity starts to develop for the young man. Kannagi begs for his forgiveness and Akachi falsily claims to forgive him, but Kannagi suspects something is not the same between them. Although they go through the motions of acting like friends, there has been a change in their friendship Kannagi continues taking notice of.

Amawakuni/Japan Arc
Amawakuni

He was introduced along with the other Shinshou members bowing at Himeou's throne. Kannagi along with other Shinshou informed they will give their powers to the new Himeou for the divine protection. The Twelve Shinshou are at the meeting for the upcoming ceremony for Himeou's replacement. The Shinshou members implied they leave everything to Kannagi, while he smirkiy licks his Hayagami.

They appeared at the ceremony the next day as Arata and Himeou are there. After Kikuri finish the first part of the ritual, Kannagi ran toward the center area and slashed Kikuri's chest in front of Arata. He smiled as Kikuri attempt to fire Amatsuriki at him, but fail and Kannagi rudely confront her how weak she is. After Kikuri fell, Kannagi then strike at Arata and ripped his upper female garment discover that Arata is a boy. One of the Shinshou, call out his name which Kannagi now ready to kill Arata for the sake of revolution. Kannagi quickly attempt to stab Arata, but he dodge by jump over the area down to the water. Others tell him he can release his Hayagami's Kamui so they can start the "battle for submission". He step down to the main public interior to announced the whole citizens falsely claiming Arata the responsible for Kikuri's murderer and the soldiers to hunt down Arata and execute him. Kannagi along with the soldiers ride their Hanima chase after Arata at the Kando Forest. The soldiers stop and replied to Kannagi that Arata have ran to the Kando Forest, which amuse Kannagi that he is a fool for him to be "devour" to the other side to the world.

Kannagi later appear at front of the Kando Forest shouting Hinohara (who take the form of his counterpart Arata) for Himeou's murderer which of course completely this confuse and frighten Hinohara. He and the soldiers later come across a group of pilgrims, and seriously keep in eye of the pilgrims including Hinohara and Kotoha under the disguise. He suspiciously stop Hinohara and Kotoha, only the tell them they "drop" a red bell on the ground and to be careful as Hinohara quickly pick up the bell.

Abilities
Homura (火焔, Homura)


 * Shakun Shourin

Relationships

 * Emisu: Kannagi's lover. Ever since she and Akachi came to Haniyasu as a slave,Kannagi brought a close friendship together with them. Kannagi care for Emisu and always there to help her in need and to make her happy. It unknown how Emisu really feel about Kannagi, but according to Kannagi, he reveal that she didn't have eyes for him and only on Akachi. It may be note that he and Emisu are pseudo-couple.


 * Akachi: Kannagi's best friend.

Trivia

 * Kannagi's Shinshou status is 132 years; birthday is August 1st; zodiac sign: Leo; blood type is B; and his favorite food are meat.
 * Kannagi has a habit of choking Arata whenever he annoys him.
 * Kannagi and Yataka have several spats mostly over cleanliness. Kannagi picks on Yataka about his relationship with Kikuri.