Rei (レイ, Rei) is a primary ally in Fist of the North Star. He is the successor of the martial art Nanto Suichoken, one of the sects of the Nanto Seiken style, and bears the destiny of the Star of Righteousness, Gisei. He agrees to help Kenshiro protect Mamiya's village and is on a mission to reunite with his kidnapped sister Airi.
Apperance
Rei is a man of above-average height and a heavily muscular build. He has decently long unkempt hair that goes down to form usually two to four bangs on each side of his forehead. He has wide, narrow eyes and thick eyebrows, and a sharp chin.
Like Kenshiro, he wears a jacket-like shirt usually depicted as gray or blue with pants of similar coloring, metallic shoulder pads, and either bandages or leather cuffs on his wrists.
At the collar of his jacket are six accessories resembling animal fangs with a circular gemstone-like object at their center (replaced with a red scarf in the anime until his final arc). At his waist are three belts and he wears boots with metallic knee gaurds.
After Toki presses his Shinreidai pressure point to extend his life by one more day, his hair turns completely white.
Personality
Although he is stoic, serious, and smart, he also has a smug side and sometimes jokes around during grave situations such as during his and Kenshiro's fight against the Fang Clan Chief and Ken's fight against Ambia. He also displayed fearlessness during some situations such as when he selflessly went up against some of Raoh's troops and then Raoh himself.
History
Before meeting Kenshiro and Mamiya, Rei wandered around the wasteland attacking random bandits for food and water and hoping to find clues about his sister Airi's whereabouts. After finding Mamiya's village he attacks Mamiya, but soon allies himself with her and Kenshiro to take on the Fang Clan that is terrorizing a mountainous area near the village. While fighting them, he finally reunifies with Airi. He later accompanies the group to the prison of Cassandra where Ken's brother Toki is being held. After Toki is freed, he goes back to the village, which is being attacked by Kenoh's Army, an army led by Ken and Toki's other brother Raoh. He tries to take Raoh out by himself but is fatally struck down and left with three days to live. He dedicates the last days of his life to hunting down Yuda who attacked Mamiya in the past.
Abilities
Nanto Suichoken
Nanto Suichoken (南斗水鳥拳, lit. "South Star Waterfowl Fist") is Rei's martial art and one of the 108 sects of Nanto Seiken. Its movements are described as graceful similar to one of a waterfowl, but also unparalleled in its cruelty. It utilizes pressurized air created from the quick movements of the fingertips to cleanly slice opponents apart.
The ultimate technique of Nanto Suichoken. Rei launches himself into the air and aims to take out the enemy with a shockwave at the expense of his own life.
Rei uses his fingertips to scar the opponents face.
After launching himself into the air, Rei backflips and spreads his arms gracefully slicing his target in half.
Rei somersaults in the air and thrusts his hands into the opponent's shoulders upon landing.
Relationships
Love Interest
- Mamiya: Rei credits Mamiya as the one who made him regain his humanity after falling into a violent disposition while searching for his sister Airi. He confesses his love to her before Raoh almost killed her by sending an arrow from her bowgun back at her, and Mamiya was grateful to Rei for professing his feelings. Rei dedicated the final days of his life to hunting down Yuda, an adversary from Mamiya's past.
Family
- Airi: Rei was overprotective of his sister Airi until the two reunited and she learned to live by herself. After she was kidnapped by Jagi, he was enraged and sought out to destroy him. Because of his drive to reunite with his sister, he fell into a dark and violent persona, describing himself as "losing his humanity". He stayed locked in this dangerous nature until he meet Kenshiro and fell in love with Mamiya.
Allies
- Kenshiro: After forming a pact to protect Mamiya's village Ken and Rei formed a powerful team that would take on many foes such as the Fang Clan, Jagi, Amiba, and the horrors at Cassandra. Because of all that he did for him Rei thought that he owed Ken and challenged Raoh to a battle to protect Airi, Bat, and Rin, but was ultimately fatally struck down by Raoh. Upon hearing this Ken was greatly saddened and thought that Rei owed him nothing.
- Bat: At first Bat was wary of Rei, thinking that if Kenshiro revealed to him that he had seven scars like the man he was searching for, they would fight. Eventually, Bat grew to trust Rei and turned to his help when Kenoh's Army attacked Mamiya's village.
- Toki: After Raoh strikes Rei's Shinketsushu pressure point and his failure to find Yuda, Toki offers to press his Shinreidai pressure point to extend his life by one day. After accepting, Rei regained the strength to fight Yuda once again.
Enemies
- Jagi: Jagi was the mastermind behind kidnapping Rei's sister Airi. Although the two did not confront each other directly, Rei despised the man who captured his sister.
- Raoh: When Raoh's Army attacked Mamiya's village Rei went to fight Raoh, aiming to kill both himself and Raoh, Rei thought that this was the only way he could repay Kenshiro for his companionship. However, Raoh saw through Rei's attack and left him with only three days to live.
- Yuda: After it was revealed that Mamiya was once kidnapped by Yuda, Rei spent the last days of his life hunting him down to kill him. In the past, Yuda was entranced by Rei's graceful movements, and became extremely envious and turned to constantly insulting Rei. After his and Rei's duel, Yuda admits his wrongs and drives Rei's hand into his shoulders, killing himself.
Quotes
Quotes- “Dress up a little and maggots like you come crawling!!”—Chapter 26: The Man of Nanto!
- “I have only one goal. To tear apart the man with seven scars on his chest!!”—Chapter 28: Men Who Have Seen Tears!!
- “What color is your blood?! (てめぇらの血は何色だ?!)”—Chapter 63: The Little Hero!
- “I can bear any pain right now.”—Chapter 77: The Edge of Despair!!
- “Yuda! You can adorn yourself with your own blood!”—Chapter 80: When Nanto Rokuseiken Falls