Shiki (, 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 a character who was made to appeal to the adult audience. Shiki is most likely modeled after Makie Otono-Tachibana from the Blade of the Immortal series. Developers admit that her personality and part of winquotes were based on Ayanami Rei from Evangelion. 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.
Trivia
* Shiki is one of the most popular characters in the Samurai Shodown series, but is comparatively unknown outside of Japan, due to the poor distribution of the two 3D games in the series. * Her true name is Kanae. * She works as a fortune teller when she's not attacking Haohmaru in ST. * Shiki's personality is belied by her name, which means "color" in Japanese, but also means "sensuality" or "lust." Virtually all of her moves are overtly sexual in nature, involving sensuous motions and/or close contact with her opponent. This is particularly true of her Bust form in [[Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage]], where she is labeled "Han'in to Narishi Shiki" (), meaning "Half-Shaded," but also with strong undertones of bisexuality. She is also heterochromatic, with one blue eye and the other blood red, which also plays into the "color" aspect of her name. * The tattoo on her back is actually a mark that she has had since birth. It signifies that she is one of the babies manipulated by Yuga.
Game Appearances * Samurai Shodown 64 * Samurai Shodown 64-2 * SNK Gals' Fighters * SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos * Neo Geo Battle Coliseum Mobile Appearances * Days of Memories (third title) - unplayable * SNK Beach Volley Gal's Attack Cameo Appearances * Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage - in Mikoto's ending Anime Appearances * Samurai Spirits 2: Asura-Zanmaden (OVA)
Vova
