Shiki

Shiki is a character introduced into the Samurai Shodown series in Samurai Shodown 64. Her Bust form in Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage is referred to as Half-Shaded Shiki.

Story
She is a woman who was tailored to be Yuga's servant before her birth. Her identity and memory become fractured when she was brainwashed by Yuga in her adulthood. He engraves an enchanted snake tattoo on her back as a means to control her. She is told to find a man fit to become the perfect body for the Dark Lord's resurrection. Finding Haohmaru to be that man, she follows him for a chance to take him away to her master. Her soul becomes freed after Haohmaru defeats Yuga.

During the year of Yuga's absence, she loses her memory of being Yuga's servant and lives on as a normal woman named Kanae. When Yuga resurrects itself a second time, it sends its new servant, Shadow Asura, to capture Shiki and regain her servitude. He succeeds in restoring her memories as Yuga's servant but the two unexpectedly fall in love. After the two Asuras defeat Yuga, she gives birth to Mikoto. She leaves her child with Nicotine Caffeine and Haohmaru as her servitude to Yuga made her feel unworthy of being a mother. It is unknown what occurred after this point, but it is strongly implied she died somewhere.

Personality
A sad woman in her heart, she never understood what it is like to be a normal woman. During her time with Yuga, she would give her body and soul to her master's wishes.

Powers

 * Super Speed - Shiki can move and react with superhuman speed.
 * Dark Poisoning - Shiki can cast a spell that leaves her opponents confused or poisoned.
 * Life Drain - Shiki can drain her opponent's life energy to heal and strengthen herself.
 * Teleportation - Shiki can disappear in an aura of light and reappear in another location.

Fighting Style
Her fighting style is focused in her twin katanas. She uses some unorthodox slashes and some kicks as well. Special moves from her Bust version are integrated into her Slash move set in her later, non-series appearances.

Her swords are said to be crafted by the heart of the demon world and given to her by Yuga. In the past, several demons -including Mizuki- tried to get their hands on it.

Music

 * Jet Black - Samurai Shodown 64
 * Eternal Darkness - Samurai Shodown 64-2
 * Pulsation - Samurai Shodown (2019)

Voice Actors

 * Kaori Minami - Samurai Shodown 64 ~ Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
 * Chitose Morinaga - Samurai Shodown (2019)
 * Rie Tanaka - Samurai Spirits Oni

Appearances
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Games

 * Samurai Shodown 64
 * Samurai Shodown! - as a secret character
 * Samurai Shodown! 2
 * Samurai Shodown 64-2 - players will not meet her as a CPU opponent
 * SNK Gals' Fighters
 * SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos
 * Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
 * Samurai Spirits Oni
 * Samurai Shodown (2019) (also in Retro 3D graphics and Puzzle & Dragons Haku's DLC costume [only in Asia])

Mobile

 * Days of Memories (third title) - unplayable
 * SNK Beach Volley Gal's Attack
 * SNK Gals Island Dokidoki Puzzle Shock! 2
 * SNK Dream Battle
 * SNK High School Collection
 * KOF x Fatal Fury
 * Samurai Shodown Online
 * Samurai Shodown: Oborozuki Densetsu
 * Puzzle & Dragons

Cameos

 * Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage - in Mikoto's ending
 * The King of Fighters XIII - background cameo in Mr. Karate's stage

Anime
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 * Samurai Spirits 2: Asura-Zanmaden (OVA)

Similar Characters

 * Dekuina
 * Half-Shaded Shiki

Trivia

 * Her eyes are naturally blue. The red eyes visually represent Yuga's level of control on Shiki, as well as the snake tattoo on his back and left thigh.
 * Her name (literally meaning color) hints to both her different colored eyes and her overly sexual behavior.
 * Shiki is symbolized by a fetus; and she's easily distinguished by her purple snake tattoo on her back.
 * Shiki is most likely modeled after Makie Otono-Tachibana from the Blade of the Immortal series. Developers admit that her personality and part of win quotes were based on Rei Ayanami from Evangelion.