Maki Kagura

Maki Kagura ( マキ, Kagura Maki), also known as Maki Yata ( マキ, Yata Maki), is a character in The King of Fighters series who has been known to players since The King of Fighters '96, but made her debut as a sub-boss in The King of Fighters 2003.

It was mentioned in the anniversary website that they actually planned for Maki to have shorter hair (as suggested by the image gallery in The King of Fighters '97) but was later scrapped due to time constraints.

She is voiced by Kazuyo Inosako.

Story
Maki is the late elder twin sister of Chizuru Kagura, also from the Yata clan. Not much is known about her, except she was killed trying to protect the seal of Orochi against the leader of the Hakkesshu, Goenitz. The Maki who appears in The King of Fighters 2003 is an illusion created by the Mirror of Yata by Chizuru, who was, at the time, under the control of Botan, a member of Those from the Past.

Due to Verse's actions during the events of KOFXIV, it is likely Maki has been revived as well, as confirmed by Yasuyuki Oda in an interview.

Personality
During her lifetime, Maki was very happy with her family and worried about the Yata clan and the fate of the Yata. The illusion Maki was quite serious about her duty to the "seal".

Powers

 * Mirror Image - Maki can create copies of herself. The copies, when created, may only move, attack and disappear. Maki is particularly stronger than Chizuru, so she can create more than one copy or make them attack more than once.
 * Reflector - Maki can reflect projectiles.
 * Create Shadow - Maki can use the power of the Yata Mirror to create shadows of living or dead beings.
 * Seal - Being of Yata heritage, Maki can use her powers to seal Orochi in another dimension.
 * Energy Manipulation - Maki can use energy to send enemies away.

Skills

 * Engineering - As her hobby, Maki knows the best tuning settings for Chizuru's motorcycle for her next race.

Fighting Style
Her fighting style is basically the same of her sister's, but she relies more on using her mirror images. She is strong enough to overpower everyone particularly large, bulky, and physically strong characters such as Daimon, Maxima and Tizoc by sending them flying at a great distance with just a mere aerial kick. Both Maki and Chizuru share one three-tier life bar. When one sister is defeated, so is the other.

Music

 * Sacredness ~ Fairy - The King of Fighters 2003

Games

 * The King of Fighters '96 - When playing with the Three Sacred Treasures Team (Kyo, Iori and Chizuru), it's implied it was actually Maki's spirit who appeared in the sub-boss fight before facing Goenitz.
 * The King of Fighters 2003 - Good Ending Sub-Boss, selectable using a cheat

Mobile

 * The King of Fighters All Star - in Special Signature Chizuru's moves

Cameos

 * The King of Fighters '96 - in the Sacred Force Team's boss cutscene, Chizuru mistook her replica for Maki.
 * The King of Fighters '97 - in the Women Fighters Team's ending.
 * The King of Fighters XIII - passing mention during Ash Crimson's story.
 * Days of Memories (second title) - NPC
 * The King of Fighters XV - her voice appears during Chizuru's Climax when used against Yashiro Nanakase, Shermie or Chris

Etymology

 * Maki's surname Kagura means "Shinto music" (神楽).
 * Her real surname Yata means "eight" (八) (ya) and "short, span" (咫) (ta).

Gallery
Maki Kagura