Identity
Living alone at the Sakura Mansion, Marina Kubo is a 25 year old woman who was considered to be Japan's greatest female kickboxer before her sudden disappearance from the public's eye.
Standing at 6'0" with a distinct, foreign appearance, Marina is an outsider to Tenoroshi. While half-Japanese, her Russian traits are considerably more predominant. Short and dull blonde hair and sharp blue eyes add to her intimidating mien. With an intense bravado that follows each action, it's no surprise that her choice in fashion is influenced by street fashion. At the prime of her career, her body was extremely disciplined and toned with notable tattoos along each limb. In recent months, her body has been rather inconsistent. The minor changes to her height, muscularity, and notable features on her limbs are often unnoticed by the apathetic crowds.
Psyche
Known for her unfettered brashness, overconfidence, and aggression, Marina is known to be quick to anger and even quicker to solve whatever is making her angry. The nickname of mad dog suits her well; one that lashes out at the slightest hint of provocation. This isn't to say she's malicious, however. She followed a loose moral code based on empathy and respect. It wasn't good to hurt those weaker than you or those that didn't slight you. She at least had enough of a brain to act like a reasonable human being, albeit an incredibly angry one. Recently, however, her empathy has been feeling more and more transient. Driven by a need to regain her own body and the prospects of revenge, her obsessions making things right have only increased each day. Often times, she's willing to do practically anything to get closer to her goals, even if they compromise her faltering morals.
Background
Born to an illegal immigrant who worked at a Russian-themed soaplands in the red-light district, Marina's early life was difficult. Despite the challenges, her mother loved her and cared for her as best as she could. When Marina was only six, her mother passed away. Her biological father, a karateka, took her in and trained her. She was good at it, to the point of becoming her father's strongest pupil. At the age of 12, she met her best friend. The 8 year old Yasuo had become a student and the two grew up and supported each other. At the age of 14, Marina began to enter karate tournaments.
After high school, Marina's life became entirely focused on martial arts. She rapidly studied under different schools in order to gain more knowledge. Managing to place first in numerous kickboxing tournaments, she entered the global stage with an astounding record. Despite leaving the city for tournaments, she always ended up returning to the same 6 tatami room outside of the red-light district.
While crossing the desolate alleyways between her gym and her home, she was attacked by a group of inhuman killers. They took her arms and legs as trophies, brutalized her body, and left her for dead. As she cursed those who had assailed her so horribly, the Lostman had found her and granted her the ability to live and take revenge. Since that day, Marina has been entirely focused on retrieving the rest of her body and getting revenge.
Quirks
Despite not needing to, she still forces herself to breath.
Relationships
Minami Yasuo - Marina's best friend and non-blood related little brother. The two of them trained in karate until Yasuo irreparably shattered his non-dominant right hand. Since then, he had been acting as Marina's cornerman, trainer, coach, information gatherer, and all-around support. He's notorious for the sheer amount of bizarre hobbies that he manages to get really into. Skateboarding, streetwear, the Finnish language, independent movie-making, and crocheting are his big 5 hobbies. While he still lives with his parents, he's more often doing kick-flips with his skateboarding gang in parks and being a general delinquent during daylight hours. He's also bizarrely responsible, being home by 9 PM every day. He makes a surprising amount of money translating Japanese literature into Finnish. Despite constantly putting up with Marina, he's still fiercely loyal to her. He's practically the only person besides Marina's dad who calls her Mari, but he usually calls her senpai because she still scares the shit out of him.
Kurosawa Takeshi - A hard broiled journalist turned private eye turned writer, Takeshi is an extremely inquisitive man. His astuteness, competency, and thirst for the truth make him a dangerous opponent. While investigating the Collectors, he noticed extremely similar pattern of crimes. Dead bodies found with one, two, or three missing limbs rather than all four missing. Knowing that it isn't the work of the Collectors, he's also hot on the trail of whoever is imitating the urban legend. He's sort of known for his true crime books published under a pseudonym, but he's not really that popular.
The Collectors - A group of four killers, each with some form of supernatural ability. They take pride in their ability to stalk, hunt, and brutally kill someone without anyone else knowing. As proof of their crimes, they each take one limb from their target. While their identities are hidden, Marina knows that that one of them has the power to prevent death (as she had survived having her internal organs torn out, without going into shock or passing out from bloodloss), one has the power to hide their presences, one had the ability to stop Marina from fighting back, and one had the ability to cleanly cut Marina's limbs off without any tools.
Locations
マンション桜/Sakura Mansion - Located 5 minutes away from the redlight district, the Sakura Mansion is a 6 story apartment complex. Known for the peculiar situations of those who live in it and their strict code of not asking any questions, it's perfect for the people who dislike any intruding eyes. Each room is only 6 tatami mats, there's no baths, and you have to use public washrooms located on each floor. Marina lives on the third floor, alongside an unused futon, a corkboard filled with notes, and a small meat freezer.
Ishikawa Gym - While located about half an hour's walk away from the Sakura Mansion, it's only about 15 minutes away if you use the maze of alleyways that separate the two. The Ishikawa Gym is a run-down place with the best equipment from fifteen years ago. Despite its dire straits, it's known for being filled with the best martial arts practitioners outside of specialized dojos. Most people interested in kickboxing end up visiting Ishikawa Gym and being repulsed. Still, most local tournaments are hosted inside of it. The owner ignores Marina's antics due to the amount of clout and revenue she brings in to the gym.
Tenoroshi North Park - Despite being called Tenoroshi North Park, it's not actually in the north. Located about an hour's walk south from the Sakura Mansion, it's notorious for being a hangout for misfits, skaters, punks, and general troublemakers. With a small amount of grass, a substandard playground, and an elaborate setup of concrete and plywood that form an adhoc skate park, Tenoroshi North Park is where the ephemeral youth go to be themselves. Graffiti and simple grey paint wage war over each wall, ramp, and path for weekly dominance. Yasuo usually chills in the park with his skateboarding gang.
