Age:	Fifteen
Height:	168cm
Blood Type:	A
Birthplace:	Tenryo, San'un Province, Kutouku
Family:	Parents died in the war; has a twin brother, Amiboshi
Hobby:	Exercising
Powers:	Can control ryuuseisui, a weapon, by psychokinesis
(The above was taken from the "Seiryuu Counterattack!" CD booklet.)

Suboshi was born August 26, like his brother Amiboshi. His real name is Bu Shunkaku. He was fifteen years of age when he joined the Seiryuu Shichiseishi. There is a character on his left shoulder that means "angle." Suboshi is far less docile than Amiboshi and battles out of spite rather than duty. He is filled with hatred for those who have hurt him and those few about whom he cares. When confronted with combat, he is overzealous and brutal, taking on opponents significantly more powerful than himself (namely Tamahome) simply because he resents or detests them. He has a jealous, overprotective personality than shines through when confronted with concepts he does not like, such as Yui, the object of his affections, caring for Tamahome more than she cares for Suboshi. He also disliked it when Yui asked to talk to Nakago rather than him, and requested that he be little more than an errand boy. He was seldom treated well by her, but because of his rough personality and hard time expression emotions in a delicate manner, she was never sure if he really cared about her or if he was just like the men she was convinced raped her soon after she arrived within the confines of the book.

Immediatelly following his brother's death, Suboshi was devastated. His brother, the center of his universe, had been killed..? He was certain that this was how events had taken place, either unwilling to believe other possible scenarios (suicide) or simply wanting to place the blame on someone's head. Suboshi felt intense physical and emotional pain at the moment when his brother "died." He wept for the duration of the day; even as he wept, his ryuuseisui spun eerily in the air around him, warding off others. Yet Yui approached him after learning of what had happened. Suboshi snapped at her, telling her she didn't understand his pain, but she said that she felt she did know what he was going through, and she wrapped her arms around him, telling him he was free to cry. For the first time in years, someone aside from his brother was showing Suboshi genuine kindness. Because of this, Suboshi quickly became enamored by Yui, the Seiryuu no Miko.

Following those moments, Suboshi came to want to right the wrongs he felt had been done unto himself and his brother. Nakago advised him to follow one of the simplest and more effective laws: An eye for an eye. Suboshi left the Seiryuu people and sought out Tamahome's family, which consisted of four small children and an invalid. He slaughtered them as the other villagers, terrified of the furious Suboshi, remained in their homes. Tamahome arrived soon and found his dead and dying family members. His youngest sister, Yuiren, whispered a few last words before passing away in his arms. Tamahome's rage became insurmountable. As he emerged from the home, shaken and grieving, he heard the familiar sound of a flute that was being played by someone whose face and tune matched that of Amiboshi. Yet he was not Amiboshi; he was his twin, seeking revenge. Tamahome attacked Suboshi with savagery and power that the normally easy-going Tamahome had never utilized before. Suboshi was easily outdone within seconds, but Soi appeared and saved him, chastising him softly for being foolish.

Suboshi was given the task of being Yui's bodyguard (read: errand boy) and escorted her wherever she needed to go. He liked spending time with Yui, but she was less fond of him, though she did not actively dislike him. When they were sent alone ahead of Nakago, Yui became distressed and demanded to go back to the camp and see who Nakago was visiting. Suboshi tried to convince her, somewhat unsuccessfully, that Nakago was not trustworthy and was, in fact, 'bedding' with Soi. When Yui didn't listen, Suboshi wrenched her around and kissed her in a way that was at best awkward, and at worst vaguely reminiscent of rape. Yui was horrified and pushed him away. Suboshi, mortified and angry at once, kept his hold on Yui until Tomo emerged from the darkness (literally) and told Suboshi to "save it until after Seiryuu is summoned." Scowling, Suboshi stalked off.

Some time later, Suboshi felt the presence of his brother's Chi. He went to seek his brother and found him in time to save him from Tomo. In a strange act of vengeance and brutality, Suboshi impaled Tomo with his ryuuseisyui, killing his fellow Seiryuu Shichiseishi and saving his lost brother. He could hardly speak to Amiboshi before he realized that his brother was unfit for the life of a Seishi. In an act of compassion that some perverts completely misconstrue, Suboshi kissed his shocked brother, lacing his lips with a medicine that would eradicate his memories of his brother, being a Seishi, and everything else that had taken place. Suboshi tends to be less popular than Amiboshi, but I prefer to view him as a victim rather than an instigator... Call it cliched, but it's true. He was being manipulated and used by others, specifically Nakago. Everyone he loved was taken away from him, and everything he wanted was something he could not acquire. I'd be pretty bitter, too. His actions were inexcusable -- especially when he killed a group of children and an invalid -- but I feel sorry for Suboshi and genuinely wish things had turned out better for him.

Returning to the Seiryuu Shichiseishi camp, Suboshi was not given so much as a slap on the wrist for killing Tomo, although Nakago did mention the killing, albeit briefly, and then handed the abandoned ryuuseisui back to an annoyed Suboshi. Suboshi went to help Yui prepare for the summoning of Seiryuu. Yui was visibly nervous, so, in a parallel of her past actions, Suboshi embraced her and told her he would remain that way until she was calm again, words which held warmth for even the bitter and unhappy Yui. As Seiryuu was called, Suboshi watched in sheer awe. Yui began using her three wishes the next day, starting with sealing Suzaku. Not much later she used her second wish: To return herself and Miaka to her world, and separate Miaka from Tamahome forever. It was then with horror that Suboshi watched her taken from him. But they were not apart for long. Suboshi followed Yui to her world so that he could kill Tamahome, who no longer had the power of Suzaku. During the battle, the "ghosts" of Tamahome's dead siblings -- actually manifestations of guilt (by my theory) -- held Suboshi down and he was ventilated by his own ryuuseisui. He died, uttering the names of Yui and his brother.

As an Author's Note, here's my personal conjecture on Suboshi and everything he did. Suboshi committed several unforgivable crimes, from murder to attempted rape, but a sincerely believe that he was not a bad person. It's aggravating to see him labeled as the "evil twin" and the "bad one." Compared to his brother, yes, he's a loose cannon, but Suboshi never did anything vile until after he thought he had lost his one and only friend. Then, as people so often do, he took out his anger on innocents. This can't be excused, but to some extent it can be understood. Suboshi was doing what he did because he knew of no other way to atone for his brother's death and Yui's pain. He had to blame someone; had to make someone else endure the same agony. Inflicting pain on others was his way of making up for his own guilt and shortcomings. In my eyes, Suboshi deserves pity rather than the hatred he inspires in some Fushigi Yuugi fans. He was not an entirely deplorable or disgusting person.

On a similar note, constant remarks about him being on the dense side are almost as disturing as the people who say he's the face of all evil. Suboshi is not stupid. There is no evidence that he is stupid at any time in the series. Sad, hurt, mournful, distressed, conflicted, vengeful, angry, and spiteful, but stupid? No. Smart people do dumb things. Besides, an idiot couldn't use telekinesis...

Minor note: During his first battle with Tamahome, Suboshi plays a few notes on the flute. He uses a different weapon than the flute, but apparently he can play one.

Of all the e-mail I've received, almost all has been from people who were glad I was supportive of Suboshi. Some of them even actively accused Amiboshi of being a dork. Well, to each his own... But yes, I prefer Suboshi to Amiboshi, and I'll try to justify this here.

Suboshi is a beautiful character. His rage and hatred are unobstructed by popular themes. He is never boring, and does not fail to deliver a deeply meaningful and moving performance. No one has to like him as a person - he can be a royal pain in the you-know-what - but as a character it is undeniable that Suboshi has a very powerful presence that always elicits a reaction from the audience. His fury is visible, as is his grief, perplexity, elation, and all other emotions. He is expressive. He embodies everything that is right about character development. He grows and changes gradually, like a real person.

He also never submits to the pressure of literary conventions. To Watase-sensei's advantage, her villains are among the most unique in anime history. From Miboshi to Amiboshi, they all have a distinct personality. Where else can one find a character as absurdly garish and spectacular as Tomo? Not many places. Because Suboshi is one of the villains, he has the chance to evolve outside of the usual character development. He can make mistakes and do the wrong thing, and it's not confined to the limitations of what is all right to show the hero doing. His brother eventually becomes the Suzaku Seishi That Got Away and reverts to cheesy "gee, I wish I were a good guy" dialogue and antics (forgive me, but you know it's true), but Suboshi remains as deeply meaningful as any character in literature, film, or any other form of media. He symbolizes so many states and is so complex that there are more interpretations of him than I can begin to count.

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