Boy Genius: Chiriko

Chiriko is the last of the Suzaku Seishi to appear before Miaka, and he makes a pretty timely entrance. In episode 17 of the anime (act 25 of the manga), Miaka and her companions are attacked by bats, when along comes a tall, slender, handsome boy with a magical flute, which he plays to drive away the creatures. After they're safe he shows them the character on his upper arm--identifying himself as Chiriko, the seventh of the Suzaku Seishi. After returning to the capital (and after reuniting with Tamahome) the group prepares to summon Suzaku.

There's a slight problem, though--this "Chiriko" isn't Chiriko at all. Actually, he's Amiboshi, a Seishi of Seiryuu--the "Chiriko" character is a tattoo. In episode 24 (act 36), after Miaka ceremoniously chucks The Universe of the Four Gods into the fire, they discover this, and Amiboshi prepares to kill them all with his energy-zapping music. At around the same time, a young boy is beckoned by the movement of the stars and rushes to the palace to fulfill his destiny.

It appears to be the end of the line for the Suzaku Seishi when, through the horrible wail of Amiboshi's flute, they can all hear another song, faintly battling his. They regain their movement, and are greeted by that same small boy, his ponytail adorably defying gravity. Amiboshi watches his plans crumble as the boy shows them the character on his foot--the real Chiriko has arrived. He was playing his melody on a leaf flute, and using it to counteract Amiboshi's spell. The Seiryuu Seishi flees, and they give chase, until Amiboshi lets go of Miaka's hand and falls to his death into the swollen river.

Pretty great entrance for a little kid.

After things quiet down they learn a little more about the real Chiriko--he's 13 years old, and the youngest person to ever pass the government's entrance exam for civil service; Hotohori has even heard of him. They also find out that he blames himself for the loss of The Universe of the Four Gods--he wishes that he could have arrived earlier to foil Amiboshi's plans, but no one else blames him for what happened. Chiriko continues to question his own importance and worth in the group for a long time. In the manga this feeling is amplified, as from time to time Chiriko's character will disappear, rendering him a helpless crying kid of average intelligence.

His moment in the spotlight comes much later, in episodes 43 and 44 (manga acts 65 and 66).

In the land of Byakko, the Suzaku Seishi are trying to stop Yui from summoning Seiryuu. On the way to the temple's rooftop, they encounter Miboshi, an evil-looking midget demon and one of the Seiryuu Seishi. A battle ensues and Miboshi is mortally wounded--but there's something about Miboshi that they don't know. He possesses the ability to take over the bodies of others. (Very much like Chucky in Child's Play. Actually, his appearance in the anime isn't his true form--the midget person was actually a monk at the temple.) He finds a target that is unguarded and just the right size for him: Chiriko. Before anyone can stop him Miboshi possesses Chiriko's defenseless body and takes command.

The Suzaku Seishi soon realize what has happened, and know that they cannot do much to stop it--if they attack Miboshi they harm Chiriko. Miboshi, in his new body, has his way with them by summoning many dangerous magical beasts, but has a tenuous hold on Chiriko's body, and finds himself slipping in and out of control. Chiriko is determined not to give up, and as a last resort, stabs himself with Miboshi's magical weapon.

Miboshi--and all of the Suzaku Seishi--are stunned as Chiriko's body falls to the ground, powerless and dying. Chiriko commands Miaka and the others to go after Yui and prevent the summoning of Seiryuu. They're reluctant to leave, but the two Byakko Seishi tell Miaka not to let Chiriko be sacrificed in vain. But Tasuki and Mitsukake stay behind, so Chiriko won't have a lonely death. He won't let Mitsukake heal him, because Miboshi would also be healed and the whole thing would be for nothing. Tasuki despairs as they realize there's nothing they can do to save him. Chiriko tells them that he's sorry he couldn't do much to help out with Suzaku's summoning, and that he's happy he could be part of something special with them. Finally, he asks them to use the scroll he received from Taiitsukun, in his place. With a last cry of "thank you" to his companions, he dies in Tasuki's arms.

In the final battle with Nakago, like the others who died, Chiriko borrows one of Nyan-Nyan's bodies and comes back to lend support to Miaka, Tamahome, Tasuki and Chichiri. When Seiryuu is sealed away (with Miaka's second wish) it is actually sealed into Chiriko's scroll. After that he wishes Miaka goodbye with the others and goes off to enjoy--in a sense--his afterlife.

In the OVA, Chiriko plays an even smaller role than before, but he does have some stirring and emotional moments. In episode 6 the Suzaku Seishi meet up with Rokou, Nuriko's brother, a man furious with all of them for causing Nuriko's death. One of Tamahome's memory crystals is inside a crystal ball which Rokou holds as one of his last memories of his brother. Even as Taka is possessed by a demon, Rokou refuses to help, and Chiriko becomes enraged. His spirit screams at Rokou for not valuing his own life and not having the will to move on after Nuriko's death. He cries out that they should trade places, because Chiriko would appreciate being alive. He tries in vain to possess Rokou's body in order to help Taka, but is rejected, as only a willing body can be entered. Eventually Nuriko manages to reach his brother and make him help Taka. This episode shows another side of Chiriko--an angry youth who had his life cut short, and while he doesn't resent the living, he hates to see the living act like they're dead.

Despite all these tragic components to Chiriko's character, he himself is not full of angst, nor is he constantly depressed. He is a mostly cheery and very bright young man, and though he doesn't stick out in the group very much, he does instill deep feelings of caring and protectiveness in his older friends, particularly Tasuki and Mitsukake.