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Kureno: Deep Red



Okuri-inu (sending off dog)
Age: 300+ (appears mid-20s)


An okuri-inu (sending off/escorting dog) is a yokai known for tailing humans through mountains or forests until they've safely left the area. They can be a blessing or a curse, as the presence of the creature wards off other dangers, making them a convenient guide but one misstep could lead to the okuri-inu being the one to attack, devouring the human's soul.

Kureno is several hundred years old and a bit on the naive/socially awkward side, despite appearing in his mid-20s. When not on his own, he was raised by an unusual band of yokai and doesn't necessarily understand or follow the societal norm by demon standards, but he's remained wary of and distant from humans, leaving them just as much a mystery to him as other yokai.

He's a dog, a big black shadowy dog with red eyes who also has a human form that's used to blend in when necessary. Being a dog, he can be very casual about physical intimacy and oblivious to why it might be unwelcome to randomly hug/lean on a person without much thought regarding personal space.

He doesn't get close to people easily but he'll make detached friendships without much problem and once someone does earn his affection, he's a protective and loyal to the death sort. After years of outside influence he's more or less given up consuming souls, except on special occasions, but Sets has been keeping an eye on that for sure.

Kureno gets his name from his fiery red hair (not depicted by PB), but he's a rather stoic and deadpan individual, contrary to anime stereotypes he doesn't rile easily. He shows affection through touch rather than words and isn't the most expressive, but that can almost be expected from a dog. He definitely lives up to the reputation of a guard animal.

PB: 木曳野 暁, Kibikino Akatsuki (Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet)