Kagura Octo

"I know the story because it's relevant to you—to the scissors."

- Elluka "Ma" Clockworker to Kagura

Kagura Octo was a noble of the Octo Family in Jakoku and the guardian of the Twin Blades of Levianta. Entrusted to guard the vessel from an early age, she was eventually forced to swap bodies with the Demon of Envy, becoming trapped in the blades herself.

Early Life
"Kayo's mother, Kagura, was originally the eldest daughter of the magistrate, Octo Gato. When she was sixteen, she fled from her family and eloped with a man, and then Kayo was born—that's what I heard."

- Ma

Kagura was born in Jakoku at the turn of the ninth century EC, the eldest daughter of Gato Octo. Raised by the noble Octo Family, she was eventually tasked with safeguarding the dual cursed blades. When Kagura was sixteen, the Demon of Envy swapped bodies with her, forcing her spirit into the twin blades. Afterward, "Kagura" took the Twin Blades of Levianta and eloped with Nagare Sudou, keeping the scissors with her at their new tailor shop in Enbizaka.

Over the years, Kagura helplessly watched the Sudou Family live their everyday lives, observing Nagare and the demon possessing her body sire and raise their daughter, Kayo. After Gakuga Octo was welcomed into the family years later, the spirit grew skeptical of the man's hedonistic character as he pursued a romance with Kayo. Once Kayo and Gakuga married in January of EC 838, Kagura saw the Demon of Envy transform into a mermaid and leap off a cliff into the sea, leaving her and the scissors behind on the cliff side.

A Witness to Tragedy
"Of course, those who died were never coming back.—And because of that, a mind was broken."

- Kagura regarding Kayo

Afterward, Kayo took possession of the twin blades and Kagura continued following the young couple, watching them sire a son and live a happy life at the tailor shop. When Gakuga warned Kayo about a huge fire consuming Enbizaka at the end of the year, the woman kept them in her kimono while Kagura observed the incident, following Kayo as the family attempted to escape. Once she noticed a burning house about to collapse on them, Kagura screamed and flailed about while helplessly watching Kayo be trapped and severely burned while losing her family in the fire.

Afterward, the trapped spirit watched the tailor be treated by Mei Miroku and her father and later taken in by the Octo Family, acting as if the blond maid Bufuko was her dead son. After seeing Kayo treated of her injuries for four years before being forced to return home by Anan Octo in EC 842, Kagura watched the mentally unwell woman readapt to life in Enbizaka, becoming acquainted with the rest of the Miroku Family and Elluka "Ma" Clockworker at the Freezing Trading House.

Days later, the trapped spirit witnessed Elluka convince Kayo she could fix her "ugly burns" and free her of her apparent possession by the Demon of Envy, swapping bodies with the tailor before villainously leaving her to her fate. Seeing no one question Kayo's change of appearance the next day, Kagura followed Kayo until she began oddly gaping at Kai Miroku, acting like her husband was still alive seemingly due to the burn on their left hand they shared. Concerned, Kagura followed the man as he dealed with Perrié Cutie Marlon and returned home to angrily curse his daughter being with her foreign boyfriend.

Later on, Kagura noticed Kayo began suffering terrible nightmares every night. At some point, she began following Miku Miroku and Kiji Yarera's relationship, learning their individual situations and hearing various amusing stories. After seeing Kayo's disturbing expression upon seeing Kai and Mei out together one evening in spring, the curious spirit followed the Miroku couple's walk as they discussed his burn until Mei left claiming to get an order from Perrié. Later that night, she stared in horror as Kayo skillfully and brutally murdered Mei with the vessel before taking her red kimono.

She then followed the public's gathering around the corpse the next morning before returning to follow Kayo. After seeing Kiji depart for Elphegort to discuss marrying Miku with his parents several months later, Kagura watched Kayo witness Miku get in an argument with Kayo over her pregnancy with Kiji's child and later murder the girl while she stayed away from home late that night before taking her green sash. The panicked spirit then followed the police's investigation of the circumstances surrounding the murder until Kiji returned and was met with Kai's wrath before swearing to catch Miku's murderer himself.

A few days later, Kagura listened in on Oyuka and Eikichi's conversation about the murder investigation and a new party on their way to Onigashima. Kagura later saw one of the party, Kokutan-douji, visit Kayo and claim to be Ren searching for his mother due to a mermaid's revelation. Surprised and confused, Kagura wished she could tell the boy that the mermaid was actually a lying demon. She then followed Douji as he moved in with Kayo and met up with his old friends while reflecting on the peculiar situation as the months progressed.

One day, Kagura followed Saruteito as she investigated the cave until Kiji confronted her and learned she was searching for the "legendary blades" her ancestor forged. Afterward, she returned to Kayo and "Ren", following Kayo as she witnessed Kai buy Rin Miroku a golden hairpin. While watching the tailor confront Rin that night in her mother and sister's retailored clothes, Kagura overheard Rin reveal her past life and possession of another vessel of sin before being defeated by Kayo an deprived of her hairpin.

Left Behind
"I'm sure this is the last time you'll be conversing with a living human being like this. So, if there are things you want to say, things you want to talk about, I'll listen, right now."

- Ma to Kagura

Following Kayo's execution, her sewing scissors were abandoned on the tatami in the tailor shop. Kagura later saw Elluka heading to the shop, wondering why she was coming there. Seeing her enter, Kagura told her she seemed disappointed, not knowing if she could hear her. Seeing her widen her eyes and then sigh, Kagura heard her say that it was fine, and that this wasn't the first time she was cheated by a Demon of Sin.

Asked who she was, Kagura retorted that she was under no obligation to tell her that. Saying she was the one who robbed Kayo's body and that she had no desire to open her heart to her, Kagura saw Elluka smile and say that it was what Kayo wanted. Replying that Kayo thought she did and that Elluka induced her to think that, Kagura heard Elluka say that she didn't care who she was, and that she was going to destroy her.

Suddenly speaking in a friendly tone, Elluka told her that it wasn't a bad thing to be destroyed, and that she wouldn't be able to converse with living human beings anymore. She then continued that it was fine if she didn't want to talk about herself, musing that she intended to share it with someone else for a long time. Elluka then repeated that this would be the last time she would be speaking with a human being, and that she was willing to listen if she had things to say. Told that there was still time before the ship departed and that she would tell her anything in exchange, Kagura thought about Kayo and how she wanted to tell her story as atonement.

Saying she was reluctant to do so, the woman replied she wanted to talk about Kayo, seeing Elluka smile. Told by Elluka that she had many questions about Kayo and the people surrounding her and that among the humans she had met so far, Kayo's thoughts couldn't be read by her, Kagura thought about what to speak about first. Eventually deciding to start with the great fire of Enbizaka, Kagura began her tale.

Telling the Tale
"The fire resulted in significant damage done to the outskirts of Enbizaka. In particular, most of the buildings up through the hilltop had completely burned down. Of course... so was Kayo’s."

- Kagura

As she began describing Onigashima's unique foreign policy and Gaou Octo, Elluka interrupted and revealed she didn't need the history lesson. Kagura then moved onto Kayo's loving relationship with her husband; she then narrated how Kayo attempted to flee with her family before being trapped under a burning house and subsequently taken in by her mother's family. Elluka suddenly asked if she meant the Octo family. Confirming it, Kagura remarked that the mage knew it well.

Elluka replied that she just knew what little she heard from Anan and Kayo, commenting that she seemed to have a rather complex domestic situation. Replying yes, Kagura listened as Elluka explained how she heard that Kayo's mother Kagura, the eldest daughter of magistrate Gato Octo, eloped with a man at age sixteen and fled the family, resulting in Kayo's birth. Remarking that she knew more about it than she thought, Kagura speculated aloud that she wouldn't need to speak about it at length.

Elluka then asked her to relent, stating that she knew the story because it was relevant to her and the scissors. She then narrated how Kagura took the treasure passed down the Octo family. Stating that it was the scissors, Kagura asked if she didn't want her to talk about it. Seeing Elluka nod, Kagura asked why the scissors weren't taken from Kayo when she was in the custody of the Octo family. After Elluka asked if that was supposed to be a riddle for her, Kagura noticed the mage's foul mood.

She then answered that the answer to the riddle was the reason she didn't come after the scissors for many years. Claiming she realized the answer, Kagura heard Elluka state that as soon as she thought she acquired what she desired, she realized she was also in a situation where she was trapped in fumes. Finding her wording amusing, Kagura laughed. Elluka then asserted it was fine for the time being and that the answer would naturally come to light if she could hear more of her story. Seeing her laugh proudly, Kagura wondered if those were her true feelings.

She then asked Elluka why she didn't immediately take the scissors from Kayo, thinking about how she had come to Jakoku almost a year ago. Telling her there were various circumstances and that the scissors weren't her only reason, the mage asked if she got her meaning. Noting that it was something else of Kayo's that was clear from looking at Elluka's current form, Kagura thought about how that didn't answer her question.

Politely asked to continue her story of Kayo, Kagura observed that she wanted to change the subject. Saying that it didn't matter, Kagura stated that the story would skip to four years after the fire, during the time when Elluka came to Jakoku. Hearing Elluka remark that she basically became a character in her story, Kagura replied that the story would involve what she already knew. Told it didn't matter how people saw her, the spirit resumed her tale.

A Story Close to Home
"So the story from this point on will involve what you already know." "It doesn't matter. How I—the one known as Elluka Ma Clockworker is seen by others... that's what I care about, just a little."

- Kagura and Ma

Kagura then explained how Enbizaka was able to bounce back in four years due to Perrié Cutie Marlon, asking if Elluka agreed that her title was quite long. Summarizing Perrié being entrusted with trade around the Jakoku area by the foreign Freezis Foundation, she asked Elluka if she knew it well. While explaining Perrié's absence during the fire before helping rebuild the town, Elluka interrupted and confirmed that Perrié was selling a favor to the shogunate to try making them accept their requests and the trapped soul remarked that she understood why they accepted her request.

Kagura then explained she wasn't able to see the mainland past Onigashima, narrating that Enbizaka was able to return to its original vibrancy despite the death toll; she then added that a mind was still broken. Once Kagura recounted Kayo's return to Enbizaka and her swapping bodies with Elluka, the mage stopped to declare she had some questions. Asked how she used the Swap Technique when she never mentioned the name to Kayo, Kagura replied that she simply guessed the spell's name. Elluka then revealed she knew Kayo's father died of disease before asking what killed her mother.

After recounting the public story to the mage, Elluka questioned if it was really an accident, speculating that someone pushed her or that it was suicide. As Kagura remained silent, Elluka observed that she didn't want to give her details about it, noting she was telling the story despite disliking her. Hearing the mage remark that she seemed quite committed to Kayo, Kagura said that Kayo was like her master given the amount of time they spent together, rhetorically inquiring if it was unnatural. When asked if that was the only reason why, Kagura questioned why she was focusing on her instead of Kayo's story.

Telling Elluka she might share her own afterwards, she heard her say that it would be unnecessary if her story gave her all the answers. Kagura then looked at her notebook and inquired about her writings. Elluka then explained it was a hobby and began jotting her tale down because it was more intriguing than she expected. Once the mage stated she might sell it and that it could make for a good screenplay, Kagura interrupted the missionary, asking her not to do with it as she pleased without her permission. She then asked her if the mage really cared about saving Kayo's mind.

In response, Elluka rhetorically asked if she knew the answer regardless, stating that she only wanted a body full of magical power. She then continued that Kayo's interests overlapped with hers and so she took advantage of it, claiming she'd have taken it by force if the woman refused. Concluding the mage survived for centuries that way, Kagura heard her clarify she still bore the woman no ill will and also didn't know why Kayo committed her murders. When Elluka concluded the Swap Technique alone didn't explain it and that the spirit held the answer, Kagura realized that was why she was hearing out her story.

Afterwards, Elluka explained that the Swap Technique was a powerful spell that weakened her and kept her largely incapacitated for the past year. Kagura then questioned if that was the reason she didn't retrieve the scissors and Elluka confirmed it, explaining she assumed the Demon of Envy dwelt within them at the time and therefore waited to recover her full power before dealing with such a special demon. After Kagura declared that they would continue Kayo's story, Elluka noted the trapped soul really wasn't going to reveal her identity and the spirit continued with her tale.

Mystery of the Mind
"Kayo saw the visage of her late husband in that stranger—that's what I thought at that moment."

- Kagura recalling Kayo meeting Kai

After recalling how no one seemed bothered by Kayo's sudden change in appearance, Elluka added that she had the power to manipulate minds, though it was significantly weaker, and convinced everyone around them that the two had always had the others' appearance. Wondering if that was true, Kagura mused her words needn't be accurate and continued the tale. Once she explained that Kayo was no longer concerned with her body's "burns" but that her mind remained ill, the spirit recounted the events leading up to Kayo meeting Kai at the bridge and her subsequent "purple dreams".

Hearing Elluka mention the term, Kagura noticed she stopped writing again and asked her if she had some idea about them. Elluka answered it was a prophetic ability she had, explaining that she no longer had Lukana's power to see into the future since passing the body onto Kayo. Once the mage related that the power couldn't be actively used and manifested in dreamed colored purple, Kagura asked if Kayo gained the power and Elluka admitted it was possibly the cause behind Kayo's later actions before muttering it still didn't add up. Kagura then came at her own conclusion, realizing she had information Elluka didn't.

When Elluka then wondered aloud about if Kayo thought Kai was her husband because of the burn scar they both shared, Kagura agreed, pointing out the same scenario occurred with Bufuko and confirming they shared the same blond hair but had different genders. Seeing Elluka suddenly go silent, Kagura asked what was wrong and the mage replied that it was just what she siad, deducing Kayo's mental illness was out of a desire to escape reality regardless with both Bufuko and Kokutan-douji. After briefly looking out to the execution grounds where the monk and the boy were still talking, Kagura inquired if Kai and Bufuko's cases were different.

Elluka explicated that Bufuko and Kokutan-douji's situation with Kayo was clear while she didn't have enough information to make the same conclusion about Kai. Kagura suggested that the answer would be more clear if she heard more of the story. Politely told to hurry and continue, she asked if Elluka wanted to skip the story a bit to the point where Kayo and Kokutan-douji met. Elluka immediately requested she tell it in the proper order, explaining that it was easier to organize it that way as she prepared to continue writing.

A Demon's Skill
"The everyday peace in Enbizaka—fell apart due to a certain incident. One morning, the corpse of the Miroku shop's missus, Mei, was discovered on the street by passers-by."

- Kagura

Kagura again resumed her story, narrating how the peace in Enbizaka fell apart due to Mei's corpse being discovered and proceeded to recount everything she saw leading up to woman's murder. Admitting her confusion at Kayo's brutal skill, Kagura questioned if Elluka was good at martial arts before the missionary interrupted, warning her not to just assume she was a murderer. Asking if she was wrong, Kagura listened to Elluka claim she was book-smart and couldn't wield a blade well before clarifying it wasn't impossible if she tried.

The trapped soul then questioned if Elluka never killed someone and the mage replied she'd leave it to her imagination. Once Elluka hypothesized that she'd probably use her spell or poison if she did attempt murder, Kagura suggested Lukana as the culprit and the mage confirmed she was just a tailor and doubted she ever touched a weapon in her entire life. When Elluka mused that the Octos' samura blood finally awakened in Kayo, Kagura thought that the hypothesis was unreasonable, recalling her own lack of martial talent despite her Octo lineage.

Elluka then stated it could be simply because Kayo was possessed by a Demon of Sin, explaining that those possessed by such demons sometimes exhibited superhuman physical abilities. Once the mage revealed she assumed that was the case when she first heard of Kayo's murders when she believed the Demon of Envy resided in the scissors, Kagura pointed out that wasn't the case and Elluka replied that it completely threw off her theory before admitting her story gave her a new hypothesis.

Elluka then said that she would need to hear more of her story and Kagura to her impression that Kayo killed Mei in a passionate fit of envy believing Kai was her husband cheating on her. Kagura mused that she hadn't said enough and the mage noted her words' larger implications and asked she continue the tale. Seeing Elluka open her notebook, Kagura noticed she couldn't read the foreign characters inside and thought how she couldn't be sure the missionary was truly writing her story down.

Slip of the Tongue
"You're always quieting down at the crucial parts... And this "Kokutan-douji". Will you finally be talking about him?"

- Ma to Kagura

Afterwards, Kagura resumed telling the story, narrating how Kayo murdered Miku and later met Kokutan-douji, remarking that the mermaid's "revelation" he was told was nothing more than the whispers of a demon. Realizing her blunder, Kagura apologized for the added commentary and asked Elluka ignore it. The mage laughed and noted the spirit's hatred toward the so-called mermaid. Kagura replied that it was completely unrealistic, stating that she hated enigmatic fantasies and that mermaids didn't really exist.

After Elluka pointed out a supernatural existence like herself was saying that, Kagura dropped the topic and asked why Perrié was searching for one. Elluka explained that the Freezis Foundation had been pursuing the secret to immortality since its inception, stating that both Shaw Freezis and Perrié were given youthful vitality through the foundation's experiments. Kagura inquired if that was why she was friends with the Freezis Foundation and the missionary explained her long relationship with them allowing her to gain money and power with the empty possibility of telling them her secret.

Kagura thought about how their conversation had gotten off-track before confirming Kayo killed Miku. When Elluka then asked if Kayo mistook Miku for being pregnant with Kai's child, the imprisoned spirit replied she mostly right, confirming Kayo did witness their argument and ambushed the girl later that night. Elluka then asked if the details were different, and Kagura remained quiet. When the mage asked if she would finally speak about Kokutan-douji, Kagura asked if she was sure she wanted her to describe the boy's history before arriving to Enbizaka and Elluka assured her it wasn't necessary, stating she didn't care much about the child himself and had already researched him in advance.

The mage then showed the spirit her open notebook and Kagura complained that she couldn't read the foreign word, inquiring whether both Kayo and Kokutan-douji were going to be in her book. Elluka stated that they were, wondering aloud if it would be any good. She then explained that the book would compile other stories she heard in Jakoku and considered titling it the "Eastern Magic Record".

Personality and Traits
Kagura was a loyal and observant woman. Demonstrating great respect for family and a strong sense of duty, she obeyed her elders and faithfully watched over the Twin Blades of Levianta during her youth. Having been deprived of her regular everyday life at a young age, Kagura felt isolated and helpless, though alleviating some of her loneliness by watching others live out their lives. Because of this, she despised the Demon of Envy for trapping her in the scissors, though choosing to avoid dwelling on her feelings about her once human life.

Having watched Kayo from infancy, Kagura thought of the tailor as her master, and in some ways her daughter, and therefore grew very attached to her. Despite this, she was still horrified by Kayo's terrible murders and vainly tried to stop her despite her hopeless situation. As a result, Kagura believed telling the tailor's life story was the only way to redeem her in anyone's eyes, though she didn't truly understand everything the woman thought or did herself.

Due to her love for Kayo, Kagura was angry at Ma for swapping bodies with the tailor, believing her to be the cause of Kayo's apparent insanity, and distrusted anything the mage said or did. However, she did reluctantly share Kayo's story with her on the promise the missionary would alleviate her confusion about the incident. Still, she remained as secretive about her identity as possible and only empathized with the mage in their mutual hatred toward the Demon of Envy.

Skills and Abilities
Despite her Octo lineage, Kagura had no martial talent and therefore lacked any combat abilities. While literate in her native Jakokuese, the girl had no education in foreign languages and was unable to read their scripts. After being forced into the Twin Blades of Levianta, her soul was trapped within the scissors and unable to move freely or directly interact with the average human. However, the spirit could communicate with mages and similarly magically-trained beings. Kagura could also see and hear a large distance from her vessel, allowing her to observe anyone anywhere in Onigashima at her leisure.

Conceptualization and Origin

 * Kagura's name is written as 神楽 in Japanese kanji, referring to ancient Shinto music and dancing commonly performed by shrine maidens.
 * Her surname is derived from the Greek and Roman prefix octo, meaning "eight".

Appearances

 * Deadly Sins of Evil: The Tailor of Enbizaka (first appearance)