Nuriko
Nuriko (柳宿) is a character in the manga and anime series Fushigi Yūgi. Template:Spoiler Nuriko first appears disguised as Kourin in the Emperor's harem (which Hotohori never goes to unless to welcome new maidens). "Kourin" was in fact Nuriko's younger sister who died at a young age; he began behaving and dressing like her to keep her memory alive.
Nuriko is the only consistently crossdressing, physically strong warrior in the series and is very infatuated with his fellow warrior, Hotohori. In addition to that, it is later revealed that he also loves Miaka (and according to creator Yuu Watase, Nuriko is bisexual), though the exact nature of this love is never revealed due to his death shortly after admitting his love for her. However, within Hotohori's character novel consists a letter written by Nuriko to Houki. It was written just before his death and in it he says he's fallen in love with someone special (Miaka). Nuriko is the first Suzaku warrior to die in the story. He was killed during a fight with Seiryū Seishi Ashitare. Near the end of his life he dresses as a man so he can properly protect Miaka. Nuriko is often the second choice when it comes to 'Favorite Seishi', slightly behind Tasuki and closely followed by Chichiri.
Trivia
- Real Name: Chō Ryūen ~ Tiao Liu-Chuan (迢 柳娟)
- AKA: Chō Kōrin ~ Tiao Kang-Lin (迢 康琳)
- Character: Willow (Yanagi), under his left collar bone
- Constellation: Hydra
- Date Of Birth: 10 March
- Age: 18
- Hair Color: Vibrant Purple
- Height: 1.66m (5 feet, 5½ inches)
- Bloodtype: B
- Birthplace: Eiyo, Capital of Konan Empire
- Weapon: Armlets which increase strength (he got these at the end of season 1, as a reward from Taiitskun)
- Family: Parents, elder brother named Rokou (呂候), younger sister named Kourin (deceased), an uncle named Sonjun (孫淳), and an aunt called Fuyou (芙蓉)
- Hobbies: Dressing like a woman, fashion, makeup
- Seishi Powers: Superhuman strength
- Voice Actors: Chika Sakamoto (Japanese), Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as Melissa Williams (English)
Personality
Nuriko is biologically a man, but judging by his looks, tone of voice and all other factors, Nuriko seems like a woman, and as a woman is infatuated with Hotohori. The uninitiated may simply see a homosexual, but as Nuriko puts it, "I have a man's body but a woman's heart." When not angry or being calculating, Nuriko can be a very level-headed, compassionate person. He's the jealous type, but he is also a worrier. Nuriko seems to worry most about Miaka and Tamahome's relationship. Miaka looks up to Nuriko as an older sister, but there is a part of him that remains very manly.
Nuriko's reason for cross-dressing has a tragic past. In episodes 30 and 32, he tells the story of his sister Kourin. While playing with young Ryuen, Kourin got ran over by a horse driven carriage, ultimately killing her. A heart-broken Ryuen couldn't accept the fact that she is dead, so in order to feel Kourin's presense, he dresses like her and acts like her days after her death.
Romantic Interests: When Nuriko is first introduced into the series, he identifies as gay and cross-dresses as a woman. While he stops doing so in order to be able to better protect Miaka, he maintains his love for Hotohori. Though he is jealous of Miaka - for Hotohori admits his love for her early on in the series - Nuriko remains (relatively) mature about the situation, and he and Miaka grow close. Later on, Nuriko comes to terms with the fact that his cross-dressing resulted from the unyielding pain of losing his sister Kourin, and concludes that he had been trying to live his life as Kourin would have, not as he would have. This revelation allows him to finally allow himself to experience life as a man. He cuts his hair, which once hung down to his waist in a braid (much to the surprise of his companions), and admits to Tamahome that he loves Miaka as more than a friend. Throughout the rest of the series, even after his death from Ashitare, one of the Seiryu Warriors, the friendship between Nuriko and Miaka remains strong.
In Fushigi Yugi Eikoden, Nuriko is revived as a young girl at a local marketplace. She also steals the magic ball Tasuki has, and breaks it. Despite the young girl's size, she is able to lift a heavy rock, like Nuriko, only to find out that she is indeed Nuriko.