Name: Shizu
Age: 22
Sex: Male
Shizu is another traveler. He is quite tall and broad shouldered, and is often described as wearing a green sweater. His traveling companion is Riku, a large white dog, and together they move from country to country in an open-air buggie. Later in the novel series, Shizu and Riku acquire a third traveling companion, the young, mostly silent girl named Tea.
Shizu's weapon of choice is a long, thin, katana-like sword. His speed and reflexes mean he can even use his sword to deflect bullets, and this speed is backed by great strength.
The Past
The following contains spoilers; highlight to read.
We first meet Shizu in the story, Coliseum. He travels to this country to enter a fighting tournament; the winner is granted first-citizen access to the country by the king. However, the king is a despot and gained the throne after killing his father. His wife, fearing for their sons, sent them away before being killed. Shizu, one of the sons, was 15 at the time, and spent the next 7 years training himself so that he could get revenge. It was during this period that he met Riku.
With his skills, Shizu had no problems making it to the final round. However, Kino had earlier deduced Shizu as one of the missing princes based on her observations of Shizu and the king (Shizu could barely control his anger during a puppet play based on the king's -- and Shizu's -- past.) She decided to end it all and kills the king herself. Shizu is greatly taken aback, as he was planning on killing the king when the king presented him with the reward for the winner. Kino passes a new law (as the winners of the tournament are allowed) saying that the new king will be chosen through a tournament. Shizu had no intention of ruling the country, and so he and Riku left and continue to travel around in their buggie.
The Present
Although the anime makes no more mention of the duo, they have their own stories in the novel, and are often alluded to (such as the last paragraph in the story, Traditions.)
In the prologue/epilogue of novel 8, Kino and Shizu meet face-to-face for the second time. The only problem is, Kino cannot remember Shizu's name! (She does, however, remember Riku's. I suppose a talking dog -- Riku chats with Kino in the novel -- is more memorable than a swift swordsman.)
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