It is really hard to escape the fact that I seem to favor strong willed women - and Kishuu Arashi is certainly no exception to this. While she does not come across as a 'tough as nails' type of character, she manages to project a certain inner strength that is impossible to ignore. And nothing seems to get to this girl - not dealing with the ultra powerful savior of the earth having a temper tantrum, nor dealing with a horde of shikigami sent by our favorite assassin, Seishiro Sakurazakumori (who is featured in his own shrine).

Arashi hails from CLAMP's apocalyptic manga series, X (or X/1999). She appears in both the manga series as well as the X movie, playing a rather significant role in both. If you have seen the X movie you know that this is amazing - the movie revolving around another character besides Kamui is a little odd. Then again, this could be my own admiration showing.

X is the story of a battled between two forces for the fate of the world. The Ten no Ryu, or the Dragons of Heaven, battle to preserve humanity from certain destruction. They are opposed by the Chi no Ryu, or Dragons of Earth, who see humanity as a blight upon the earth and wish to destroy mankind to allow the world to prosper once again.

We find Arashi serving as the Hidden Priestess of the Ise Shrine - the largest and most powerful Shinto Shrine in all of Japan. It is Ise no Miko's duty to server as protector of the shrine and those who follow it, a role that Arashi has been given significant power in order to fulfill. However, destiny has also chosen her to play an even more significant role as one of the Dragons of Heaven. The Ten no Ryu protect several points of power around Tokyo with their Kekkai, enormous energy fields that isolate the combatants in a mirror dimension. If the Dragon of Heaven survive the battle and removes their Kekkai, the damage inflicted to the area protected is negated. But if the Dragon is killed the results of the battle become real - often with fatal consequences for anyone in the area.

Let's be honest - Arashi is a no nonsense type of lady. While certain members of the Ten no Ryu take their positions as guardians of the world a little less seriously than one could wish - her 'partner' Sorata for instance - Arashi tends to take things very seriously. Enough that the term ice queen might be rather befitting of her at the beginning of the series.

Part of Arashi's charming attitude is due to the fact that her mother died when she was very young, leaving her alone for three months before she was found by one of the Maidens of the Ise Shrine. This is one of the main reasons that Arashi remains to dedicated - she feels that she owes everything to the Ise Shrine. So she continues to serve, putting all emotion aside, as both the Hidden Ise no Miko and as a member of the Dragon's of Heaven.

The most amusing part of Arashi's character is watching her transformation into a more normal person through her interaction with the Dragon of Heaven who has become her friend, partner, and self proclaimed guardian - Arisugawa Sorata. An almost perfect foil to the icy and rather unemotional Arashi, Sorata hails from the largest Buddist shrine in Japan. And he is a clown through out the manga - having been given a dire predicament that while he would protect Kamui (our temperamental savior) he would one day die for a woman, Sorata decides that because Arashi is quite beautiful and nice, he will give his life for her. Sufficient to say, Arashi does not take this dedication very well. She tends to be a little abusive of Sorata when he tries to show his affection towards her, but when the chips are down they form an excellent team. As time passes it seems that both Kamui and Sorata begin to help her become a more 'normal' person - not quite the frigid ice queen we meet at first.

There are also hints that Arashi may also be developing feelings for Sorata as well (although I think that after receiving that type of dedication for so long, it would be impossible for her to feel NOTHING for the big goof ^_^) but what may come of this remains to be seem. Dedicated, beautiful, and with her own unique style of charm, Arashi is quite an interesting lady. Perhaps the reason to respect her most is that she refuses to fall into the category of 'innocent screaming maiden in need of rescue' - as much as Sorata may try to make it appear that he wishes otherwise! ^_~ But without her strong will and dedication, I doubt she would be anywhere close to how attractive she is now.