OVA
Description
Abe no Yasuaki is one of the central figures in the Harukanaru Toki no Naka de story, serving as a guardian known as Genbu of Earth. His origins are unique among the Eight Guardians, as he was not born through natural means but was instead magically created by the legendary onmyouji Abe no Seimei. Although he possesses the physical appearance of a twenty-one-year-old man, his chronological age is only two years at the beginning of the narrative. This artificial creation is the foundation of his identity and his struggles throughout the series.
Yasuaki's personality is defined by a composed and detached exterior, often leading others to perceive him as cold or strange. He operates primarily on logic and has a very limited understanding of human emotions and social nuances. This lack of understanding is frequently expressed through his catchphrases, such as mondai nai (no problem) and wakaranai (I don't understand). He is blunt and straightforward in his speech, often disregarding formalities and honorifics, and refers to others with a dispassionate directness. Despite his powerful and serious demeanor, his emotional simplicity gives him a childlike quality, as he frequently questions basic human behaviors like lying or expressing affection.
His primary motivation stems from his master's declaration that he lacks a heart and was created to find someone important to him. Accepting this, Yasuaki views himself not as a real person but as a tool for the Priestess of the Dragon God, Akane Motomiya. He believes that a tool which no longer functions has no purpose and must be discarded, which drives his actions to be ruthlessly pragmatic in the pursuit of his duty to protect the priestess, even if it means sacrificing himself or others. His role in the story is to use his immense spiritual power to exorcise demons and protect Akane, but his true narrative purpose is to discover his own humanity through his bond with her.
Yasuaki's key relationships are central to his development. His bond with Akane Motomiya is the most significant, as she is the only one who can bring out his human side. He initially calls her only Miko (Priestess), but through her sympathy and kindness, she helps him recognize and understand the unfamiliar sensations of emotion, such as pain in his chest or the impulse to cheer someone up, as seen when he magically makes a dead branch flower to stop her from crying. He develops a fondness for her, but his affection is expressed in a childlike manner, seeking her approval and guidance. His relationship with his fellow Genbu guardian, Eisen, is a contrast of chalk and cheese; while Eisen is gentle and sensitive, Yasuaki is logical and detached, allowing them to operate effectively as a spiritual unit. Yasuaki does not form close friendships with the other Hachiyou, largely due to his limited emotional understanding, which can lead to friction, such as when he fails to comprehend why Tenma would lie to protect his sister.
Yasuaki undergoes significant development, progressing from an emotionless being to one who discovers his own heart. A pivotal moment occurs when he instinctively tries to comfort Akane, an act that earns him his Dragon Jewel and stirs his first human emotions. As the story progresses, he begins to feel guilt, as seen when he lies to protect Akane and then withdraws from her company out of fear that she is angry with him. His emotional awakening culminates when he feels a painful sensation of loneliness at the thought of being separated from Akane, and he finally sheds tears when she acknowledges him as himself, not just her tool. This journey transforms him from a being who declares his feelings do not exist to one who openly expresses his affection.
As a powerful onmyouji, Yasuaki possesses a wide array of notable abilities. He is highly skilled in exorcism and magic, inheriting the techniques of Abe no Seimei. He has unique quirks, such as talking to trees, using shikigami (paper dolls) to perform chores or deliver messages, and possessing small animals to communicate with others. He can cast powerful spells and is considered perhaps the most spiritually capable of the Hachiyou at the start of the story, though his power is tied to his artificial body, and extreme stress can push his magical core to its limits.
Yasuaki's personality is defined by a composed and detached exterior, often leading others to perceive him as cold or strange. He operates primarily on logic and has a very limited understanding of human emotions and social nuances. This lack of understanding is frequently expressed through his catchphrases, such as mondai nai (no problem) and wakaranai (I don't understand). He is blunt and straightforward in his speech, often disregarding formalities and honorifics, and refers to others with a dispassionate directness. Despite his powerful and serious demeanor, his emotional simplicity gives him a childlike quality, as he frequently questions basic human behaviors like lying or expressing affection.
His primary motivation stems from his master's declaration that he lacks a heart and was created to find someone important to him. Accepting this, Yasuaki views himself not as a real person but as a tool for the Priestess of the Dragon God, Akane Motomiya. He believes that a tool which no longer functions has no purpose and must be discarded, which drives his actions to be ruthlessly pragmatic in the pursuit of his duty to protect the priestess, even if it means sacrificing himself or others. His role in the story is to use his immense spiritual power to exorcise demons and protect Akane, but his true narrative purpose is to discover his own humanity through his bond with her.
Yasuaki's key relationships are central to his development. His bond with Akane Motomiya is the most significant, as she is the only one who can bring out his human side. He initially calls her only Miko (Priestess), but through her sympathy and kindness, she helps him recognize and understand the unfamiliar sensations of emotion, such as pain in his chest or the impulse to cheer someone up, as seen when he magically makes a dead branch flower to stop her from crying. He develops a fondness for her, but his affection is expressed in a childlike manner, seeking her approval and guidance. His relationship with his fellow Genbu guardian, Eisen, is a contrast of chalk and cheese; while Eisen is gentle and sensitive, Yasuaki is logical and detached, allowing them to operate effectively as a spiritual unit. Yasuaki does not form close friendships with the other Hachiyou, largely due to his limited emotional understanding, which can lead to friction, such as when he fails to comprehend why Tenma would lie to protect his sister.
Yasuaki undergoes significant development, progressing from an emotionless being to one who discovers his own heart. A pivotal moment occurs when he instinctively tries to comfort Akane, an act that earns him his Dragon Jewel and stirs his first human emotions. As the story progresses, he begins to feel guilt, as seen when he lies to protect Akane and then withdraws from her company out of fear that she is angry with him. His emotional awakening culminates when he feels a painful sensation of loneliness at the thought of being separated from Akane, and he finally sheds tears when she acknowledges him as himself, not just her tool. This journey transforms him from a being who declares his feelings do not exist to one who openly expresses his affection.
As a powerful onmyouji, Yasuaki possesses a wide array of notable abilities. He is highly skilled in exorcism and magic, inheriting the techniques of Abe no Seimei. He has unique quirks, such as talking to trees, using shikigami (paper dolls) to perform chores or deliver messages, and possessing small animals to communicate with others. He can cast powerful spells and is considered perhaps the most spiritually capable of the Hachiyou at the start of the story, though his power is tied to his artificial body, and extreme stress can push his magical core to its limits.