Name:
Yoko Kurama
Name:
Yoko Kurama
Alias(es): Kurama, Legendary Bandit
Race: spirit fox
Age: 1000
Hair: Silver
Eyes: Gold
Height: 7'
Family: unknown
Status: A class demon, plant master, master thief
Quote: Don't mess this up, Shuichi.
Anime: Yu Yu Hakusho
Voice: (English) John Burgmeier (tv), David Hayter aka Sean Barker (movie 1), Hideo Seaver (movie 2) (Japanese) Shiguru Nakahara
History and Personality: As Kurama once tells Yusuke he was a spirit fox who gained the powers of a demon over time. Over the millenia that he lived in Demon World Yoko Kurama honed his natural cunning and stealth and became the most Legendary thief the Makai had ever known. Yoko was intelligent, witty, a master strategist and planner, with incredible power and control. By the time he became famous he was an A class demon (nearly the highest class). He was arrogant, ruthless and merciless, one who would betray an ally to gain strength without a second thought.
In the series we are only told of two instances in Yoko's life. The first is his betrayal of his companion Yomi. At the time Yoko was leading a band of thieves, but Yomi was closest to him. Yomi was reckless (according to Yomi Yoko was constantly having to rescue him) and Yoko often warned him that he was risking all their lives. But Yomi would not listen. Because of this Yoko set up a trap for him. When he walked right into it an assassin was waiting for him. Miraculously Yomi survived, but he could not find Yoko again, and though he tortured the would be assassin, the man would not tell him who had set the trap.
The second event we learn of in the second movie where a demon from the netherworld assumes the form of Yoko's only friend - a demon named Kuronue who had a t some point been his partner. Koronue and Yoko worked together for quite some time and apparently were good friends - when Yoko was with Kuronue he actually smiled and laughed and enjoyed life, which leads many to believe that the two worked together early in Yoko's career. During a raid Kuronue lost a necklace that he cherished and turned back for it. Yoko tried to stop him, but before he could reach him Kuronue was killed and Yoko was forced to run for his life. Even in his new life Kurama is huanted by the guilt he feels from this incident. It is possible that the loss of Kuronue was part of what turned Yoko cold and uncaring.
When in Yoko's life these events took place is never specified, but at the end of his career he was evidently working alone. On a botched raid, Yoko was pursued by a hunter and was critically injured. He barely managed to escape in spirit form to the Human world, where he took refuge in the body of an unborn human child. He originally intended to remain only long enough to gain back his strength (as he had lost almost all of his yoki in his flight) and he estimated that he would be able to return to the Makai after ten years. But fate had other plans and Kurama remained in the human world to look after his human mother. During his fifteen years living in human world Kurama mellows and develops a sort of split personality.
Though he had disappeared from Demon World the legends of Yoko did not die. Apparently demon mothers told stories of him to frighten their children... Yoko's reputation was still greatly respected and the few times he is revealed in the anime he is met with fear and awe. Whatever else he was, Yoko Kurama was a force to be reckoned with.
*to read the rest of Kurama's history go to the Kurama, Shuichi profile.
Relationships: The we know of Yoko only had two real relationships. One was with Yomi, a member of his band of thieves who he seemed especially close to, but later tried to have killed due to his recklessness. Yomi later returns the favor by threatening Shuichi's family if Kurama will not assist him in taking control of all Demon world. Amazingly Yomi still seems to respect, and even like Kurama, but Kurama is understandably displeased (especially since he thought the guy was dead...)
Yoko's second close companion, and probably his only friend, was his partner Kuronue. Whether Kurama became partners with Kuronue before or after he ran with his band including Yomi is uncertain. However, when he worked with Kuronue is was just the two of them. Yoko seemed to genuinely care for Kuronue (which leads me to believe that they were partners early in his history - before he developed into an absolutely heartless, arrogant, brat...) and was genuinely distressed by his death during a robbery gone wrong. As Shuichi he easily falls back into guilt over that death, though he insists that he tried to save Kuronue.
How Yoko regards the Urameshi team is unknown. In the few brief battles in which he comes to the forefront he seems to care for little but the fight, though he does tell Shuichi not to mess things up, and at the end of the Chapter Black saga he rescues Yusuke and Hiei from falling to their deaths.
Techniques: Yoko Kurama's abilities include shape-shifting, casting illusions, and breaking seals and codes. But his real talent is to master any plant, human or demon, using his incredible yoki. Presumably Yoko can use any attack that Shuichi can, and he seems to favor his rose whips in both forms. To see a list of the attacks he poses in both forms see Kurama, Shuichi profile. Below are a list of attacks specific to Yoko.
Death Tree: Used by Yoko Kurama during his match against Reverse Urashima/Ura Urashima of Team Uratogi/Fractured Fairy Tales in the Dark Tournament. This is a giant redwood carnivorous tree with an acidic saliva that strikes anything that moves. Yoko Kurama used this to force Ura to tell him the secret of the Reverse Treasure Box. This would have worked if Ura hadn't been killed by his teammate Shishiwakamaru for trying to give away their secrets.
Ojigi Plant: Used during his match against Karasu this is where Yoko Kurama was able to use this plant to counter Karasu's bombs. This deadly plant is from South America where it responds to movements or flammables by closing its leaves around its prey and crushes it to death. Although this plant managed to bind Karasu, he was able to create an explosion from within destroying this plant.
The Binding Fist of the Demonic Vine: Used by Yoko Kurama during his battle against Shinobu Sensui. This is where by growing the Rose Whip around his arm, Yoko Kurama can use the vines as a sword-based weapon.
Leaf of a Plant: doubling as a glider, this plant is the one Yoko Kurama placed this on his back to sprout Butterfly Wings to help him, Hiei and Kuwabara, level their descent after falling in midair from the portal to Makai (Demon World) during their pursuit of Sensui to avenge Yusuke Urameshi's death.
Trivia: Kurama's fox demon form looks very similar to the half demon, Inuyasha from the anime Inuyasha.
Why we love him: He's cold and ruthless and heartlessly betrays his friends, but his also absolutely stunning, cunning, matchlessly intelligent, and I just am drawn to cold arrogant jerks okay! I admit it - I need help. Again, it's a very good thing that I don't have a boyfriends, he'd probably be scary...
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