OVA
Description
Ran-Mao is a Chinese figure operating in London's Victorian underworld, closely tied to Lau. She appears as a young woman with jet-black hair styled in twin buns resembling cat ears, often adorned with floral ornaments, and distinctive amber eyes. Her attire typically combines a lavender and black cheongsam with a dark blue cropped jacket, a Western corset, black stockings, ballet shoes, and gold anklets with bells.
Her background is largely undefined, but she shares a long-standing association with Lau, having known him since childhood. Lau refers to her as his "little sister" despite confirming they are not blood-related. Their relationship involves significant physical closeness; Ran-Mao is frequently seen sitting on Lau's lap or holding his arm, suggesting mutual dependence, with Lau describing her as a "pampered child." Ran-Mao exhibits minimal verbal communication, typically speaking only fragmented words or short phrases, often in broken English. Her demeanor is predominantly emotionless and aloof, though she occasionally displays curiosity, such as sniffing food or objects, and lacks conventional social awareness, resulting in unintentional breaches of etiquette.
Functionally, she serves as Lau's personal assassin and bodyguard. Despite her delicate appearance, she possesses exceptional physical strength, speed, and combat proficiency. Her primary weapons are twin chuí (heavy maces or hammers), which she wields with enough force to shatter pavement. She has executed targets under Lau's orders, including Harold West Jeb and his wife Mina, demonstrating lethal efficiency. Her loyalty to Lau is absolute; she accompanies him almost constantly and acts primarily at his direction, extending to using seduction tactics when instructed, as seen during social gatherings where she flirtatiously engaged targets like Georg von Siemens or Baldroy.
Ran-Mao participates in several critical events. During the Phantomhive Manor Murders arc (*Book of Murder*), she attends a banquet at Ciel Phantomhive's estate. When a snake targeting Ciel is unleashed, she volunteers as a decoy, wearing Ciel's clothes to draw the creature out. After its capture, she expresses relief at Ciel's safety by hugging him tightly—an uncommon display of concern. In the Public School Arc, she assists Lau in distracting cricket players during a tournament by flaunting her legs alongside other women, aiding Ciel's objectives. Later, in the Blue Memory Arc, she helps Ciel and his servants evade Scotland Yard by collapsing sewer tunnels and guiding them to Lau's opium den, where she serves food and bluntly critiques Ciel's table manners. During the Blue Revenge Arc, she pairs with Mey-Rin for an investigation, traveling by train while disguised with hair ornaments.
Speculative theories, derived from traits like her amber eye color, cat-like hairstyle, name meaning "blue cat" in Chinese, and habitual sniffing, suggest she may be a supernatural entity such as a *bakeneko* (a shapeshifting yōkai cat) or a human possessed by a cat spirit. These theories posit her abilities could offer Lau an advantage in future conflicts, though they remain unconfirmed in canon. Her dynamic with Ciel is transactional; she and Lau repay debts to him, such as after the snake incident, hinting at potential shifts in their alliance.
Her background is largely undefined, but she shares a long-standing association with Lau, having known him since childhood. Lau refers to her as his "little sister" despite confirming they are not blood-related. Their relationship involves significant physical closeness; Ran-Mao is frequently seen sitting on Lau's lap or holding his arm, suggesting mutual dependence, with Lau describing her as a "pampered child." Ran-Mao exhibits minimal verbal communication, typically speaking only fragmented words or short phrases, often in broken English. Her demeanor is predominantly emotionless and aloof, though she occasionally displays curiosity, such as sniffing food or objects, and lacks conventional social awareness, resulting in unintentional breaches of etiquette.
Functionally, she serves as Lau's personal assassin and bodyguard. Despite her delicate appearance, she possesses exceptional physical strength, speed, and combat proficiency. Her primary weapons are twin chuí (heavy maces or hammers), which she wields with enough force to shatter pavement. She has executed targets under Lau's orders, including Harold West Jeb and his wife Mina, demonstrating lethal efficiency. Her loyalty to Lau is absolute; she accompanies him almost constantly and acts primarily at his direction, extending to using seduction tactics when instructed, as seen during social gatherings where she flirtatiously engaged targets like Georg von Siemens or Baldroy.
Ran-Mao participates in several critical events. During the Phantomhive Manor Murders arc (*Book of Murder*), she attends a banquet at Ciel Phantomhive's estate. When a snake targeting Ciel is unleashed, she volunteers as a decoy, wearing Ciel's clothes to draw the creature out. After its capture, she expresses relief at Ciel's safety by hugging him tightly—an uncommon display of concern. In the Public School Arc, she assists Lau in distracting cricket players during a tournament by flaunting her legs alongside other women, aiding Ciel's objectives. Later, in the Blue Memory Arc, she helps Ciel and his servants evade Scotland Yard by collapsing sewer tunnels and guiding them to Lau's opium den, where she serves food and bluntly critiques Ciel's table manners. During the Blue Revenge Arc, she pairs with Mey-Rin for an investigation, traveling by train while disguised with hair ornaments.
Speculative theories, derived from traits like her amber eye color, cat-like hairstyle, name meaning "blue cat" in Chinese, and habitual sniffing, suggest she may be a supernatural entity such as a *bakeneko* (a shapeshifting yōkai cat) or a human possessed by a cat spirit. These theories posit her abilities could offer Lau an advantage in future conflicts, though they remain unconfirmed in canon. Her dynamic with Ciel is transactional; she and Lau repay debts to him, such as after the snake incident, hinting at potential shifts in their alliance.