Shiki

Shiki (色, Shiki) is one of the new characters introduced into the Samurai Shodown series in Samurai Shodown 64. She remains mostly exclusive to the Samurai Shodown 64 series. She is voiced by Kaori Minami.

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 and trained in the art of twin sword fighting. 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.

Her Bust form in Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage is another version of her. Her story is based on the possibility of Shiki remaining as Yuga's servant. She is more sarcastic and sensual than her other ego, yet she has no hope of salvation as she will always be her master's loyal puppet.

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

Powers

 * Super-speed - Shiki can move herself at amazing speeds.
 * Dark poisoning - Shiki can put a spell that can leave her opponent confused, or poisoned.
 * Life Drain - Shiki can drain portion of life from opponent to heal herself
 * Teleportation - Shiki can disappear in a aura of light and reappear in another location.
 * Sexual context attacks - Shiki employs acrobatic attacks of very suggestive look, such as kiss attacks and mount attacks, some of them are complemented by sex-related sounds.
 * Yuga-Influenced Powers - Rasetsu/Bust form of Shiki is embedded with part of Yuga's power and part of her moveset is based on Yuga's
 * Spinning Dharma Wheel  - Shiki can create a large energy wheel and use it to hurt her enemies.
 * Astral Blade - Swordless version of Shiki can create a energy blades as extensions of her hands and use it to strike her opponent.
 * Mercy - Shiki creates aura that makes opponent copy her movements, then takes large spear made from lighting and impales herself as opponent does the same
 * Goddess of Rain - Shiki gains ability to fly, and discharge energy balls and beams from air

Fighting Style
Her fighting style is focused in her twin katanas. She uses some unorthodox slashes and some kicks as well. Her Bust version in 64-2 appeared in fights unarmed and could summon a sword on the spot. Special moves from her Bust version are integrated into her Slash move set in her later appearances.

Music

 * Jet Black - Samurai Shodown 64
 * Perpetual Darkness - Samurai Shodown 64-2

Game Appearances

 * Samurai Shodown 64
 * Samurai Shodown 64-2
 * SNK Gals' Fighters
 * SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos
 * Neo Geo Battle Coliseum

Anime Appearances

 * Samurai Spirits 2: Asura-Zanmaden (OVA)

Sprites

 * Last sprite actually represents a Gandara, another character, but Shiki becomes it when affected by Red Arremer's Makai Spell