Akari Ichijou

Akari Ichijou (一条 あかり, Ichijō Akari) is a character in The Last Blade. She is symbolized by spells, mononoke (demons), and ribbons. Her official slogan is "Magical Little Girl": 小さな陰陽師.

She is voiced by Mayuko Omimura and by Kana Ueda in the pachislot title.

Story
Born and raised in Kyoto, Akari hails from a family of onmyoji. Her father asked her to take care of the Hell's Portal when it first opened. Wanting to see the world with her own eyes, Akari complied.

When her older sister, Hikari, succumbed to a mysterious illness, Akari grew worried and suspected it had something to do with Hell's Gate. By the time her father called her to tell her do what was to be done, she sets off determined to seal the gate again and cure her sister. Her ending has her escaping her father's wrath regarding her sudden departure and starting another adventure to find a mermaid.

Personality
A spoiled little child, Akari often ignores her father's wishes to get what she wants. She likes adventuring and often leaves home having fun despite the circumstances of the journey. Although flippant in nature, she cares deeply for her family and friends.

Powers

 * Teleportation - Akari can create dimensional doors and cross them.
 * Necromancy - Akari can summon ghosts, youkai and Hagure to aid her in battle.
 * Necromantic Projectile - Akari can fire a projectile composed of ectoplasm.

Fighting Style
The Ichijou-ryu style has the primary goal of teaching its students how to summon and control spirits and youkai, although it teaches some fighting techniques with the heihaku.

Music
Akari sings a song which is titled as Akari's song in the Last Blade Arranged Soundtrack. An instrumental version is also used for her appearance in SNK vs Capcom: Match of the Millennium.

Game Appearances

 * The Last Blade
 * The Last Blade 2
 * The Last Blade - Beyond the Destiny
 * SNK Gals' Fighters
 * SNK vs Capcom: Match of the Millenium
 * Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
 * Neo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting
 * Gekka no Kenshi Gaiden ~ Akari to Nanatsu no Ayakashidama

Mobile Appearances

 * Days of Memories (ninth title) - unplayable

Similar Characters

 * "Akari" Ichijou
 * Hagure Hitogata

Last Blade Drama CD
Akari makes an appearance in the Last Blade Drama CD where she and Juzoh once again serve as comic relief. In the alternate ending, she sets out to travel with Yuki where they appear together in two scenes.

In the Drama CD, it is revealed that Akari is very confident with her English, yet fails to make an American man understand what she is saying such as her attempts to say the common phrase: "Don't cry over spilled milk."

Trivia

 * Aside from her sister, Akari hangs out with two other girls. Their names are Shizuka Kujo ("Shichi") and Aoi Yahata ("Acchi"). Shizuka has black hair and Aoi's outfit has green ribbons. They're usually seen cheering for her in the background or in her endings.
 * Technically, Akari cannot be fatalitied as she replaces herself with a shikigami moments before she is slain.
 * In her 100 Demons' Night (Shikigami Hyakkiyakou) super move in games outside The Last Blade, several cameos can be spotted:
 * The Match of the Millennium: SNK vs. Capcom: Dhylec (Donovan Baine's sword), Ryuhaku Todoh, Go Hibiki (Dan's deceased, Tengu-faced father), Mizuki Rashojin, Gore Gajah from Star Gladiator, a pair of small Mars People, Red Arremer, Mukuro, Hannya (Bishamon's cursed suit of armor), Shiro Tokisada Amakusa and, lastly, an SV-001.
 * Neo Geo Battle Coliseum: Youkai Kusaregedo, Gandara, Ryuhaku Todoh, Earthquake, Wild Iori, Honki ni Natta Mr. Karate, Nicotine Caffeine and one of the spirits summoned by Sokaku Mochizuki.
 * In the MotM version of 100 Demons' Night, it is interesting to notice that, even though the characters just pop up next to the opponent, Akari is still animated as if the barrage of monsters seen in the other games paced back and forth, trampling her, until she falls unconscious to the ground.