Benio Adashino

Benio Adashino is the main heroine of Twin Star Exorcists series. She is the next head of the Adashino House, one of 64 most important houses of Tsuchimikado Island. She and Rokuro Enmado are the current Twin Star Exorcists, and is destined to have a child who will be the Miko. In the manga she marries Rokuro Enmado and takes his last name.

Appearance
Benio is a teenage girl around average height and green eyes. She has waist-long black hair (dark purple in the anime) that has a set of long bangs that frames her forehead. She is usually seen in her school uniform or exorcist gear. She used to have two pink bobble hair ties (given by her brother Yuto Ijika in anime), on both sides. She later replaced them with a pair of silver Japanese bellflower-shaped hairpins that were given to her by Rokuro Enmado.

During their fight against Yuto, she loses both legs and gets impurity legs as replacements, much like Rokuro's right arm. Kamui even states that they are too beautiful to be called impure.

Two years later, she is shown to have grown taller, however, her breasts were still quite undeveloped.

After her transformation to Great Yin, as a humanoid impurity, she has her kuji-kiri on the stomach, dark skin, golden eyes, and light-colored hair like other impurities. She has a single horn on her right side and a long mantilla on her hair. The hairpins given by Rokuro are transformed into neck and head decorations.

Personality
Benio first comes off as a cold, quiet person, who dislikes talking and is easily irritated. She has a speech quirk; where she would momentarily pause in between some sentences. When it comes to exorcism, she is very passionate and can be very talkative. Since she comes from an important family, honor and pride are both very important to her. She is also very competitive, especially around Rokuro, and since she was taught to never back out from her words, she can be pretty stubborn and will use any argument to win.

A running gag with her exorcism passion usually happens in situations where Rokuro would accidentally see her naked or other perverted situations; where she would respond with a made-up spell to "extinguish" Rokuro's perversion.

After warming up to Rokuro, Benio is shown to actually be a very caring person. She is also easily embarrassed, even to the point of fainting when she experiences it immensely. In the past, she is also shown to be somewhat of a volatile cook; her food ranging from inedible concoctions to consumable meals, the latter which Rokuro tries not to acknowledge as she would cook such food repeatedly if he mentions that it was good.

She has an extreme liking for ohagi; something she inherited from her father. In the anime, she even wanted to make an anime adaption of "Ohagi Man," a hand-drawn manga based solely around ohagi. Her liking for ohagi is contagious enough to reach even Rokuro as time went on.

After the timeskip, Benio seems to be able to show her feelings comfortably compared to when she first met Rokuro, and seems to show her jealousy more openly than before.

History
Benio was born raised in Adashino House on Tsuchimikado Island to learn and practice exorcism for her future as an exorcist and lived a happy life, until a powerful impurity defeated her parents at the sight of her own home. This Basara proceeded to ask her whether she wanted to save her mother or her father, and when she could not answer, asked her parents whether they wanted to save themselves or their daughter, to which they answered without hesitation, orphaning her on sight in front of her. Then later, it was shown that she cried heavily at their funeral.

Four years later, Benio heard her brother Yuto disappear in the Tragedy of Hiinatsuki Dormitory, furthering her emotional pain.

Before the events leading up to the beginning of the story, Benio had trained herself to become an exceptionally powerful exorcist, wielding her late mother and father's weapons. She later moved to Kyoto to live with her relatives of Adashino House and attended middle school normally. Before long, she and her caretaker Kinu were assigned to move to Tokyo, and she had to leave her old life behind.

Plot
Benio was first seen falling from the sky after exiting Magano, into a river. Rokuro tried to save her, but she ended up saving him from the river. She asked him to help on getting to the place from the map she had, but in the end Rokuro wasn't able to find the spot. As they saw 2 children disappear into Magano, she used a charm and opened a portal to Magano to go and save them. Inside Magano, she fought multiple impurities and defeated them, but was then surprised that Rokuro followed her. As she helped healing the wound of one of the children, a stronger Impurity showed up. She left the kids to Rokuro and gave him a charm to use to get out of Magano, while she went to defeat the Impurity. She gave her all against that Impurity but wasn't able to defeat it and as she was about to be defeated, Rokuro stepped in and used a black charm, transforming one of his hands and defeating the Impurity with a single blow. This annoyed Benio, as she stepped on Rokuro foot after that and told him that she didn't asked for his help.

As they left Magano, outside they met Kinu, a woman that takes care of Benio. Before leaving towards the place she had to go, she and Rokuro exchanged names. In the end, Benio had to go to Seika Dormitory and when Rokuro came, they mocked him for not being able to read a map to his own place. In the anime version of the series, Benio and Rokuro had to move into a very big villa.

Benio has lost her enchanted powers, due to the battle between her guardian and Sayo's guardian.

After losing her powers, Benio was attacked by impurities. Without any abilities, she was under the risk of dying until Kamui saved her.

Powers and Abilities
To fight Impurities, Benio uses different Talismans (霊符) that vary in effect and aid her in combat.


 * Exorcism Enchantment (陰陽呪装): By using combinations of charms, she can greatly increase her speed, power, and defense. Benio is capable of using up to six enchantments at once, a feat that speaks volumes of her genius. She usually uses a fox-like mask, markings upon her arms, legs, and torso, and two Charm blades.
 * Saigan Shishi (砕岩獅子): Using the Strong Arm Talisman (轟腕符), Benio increases her strength for combat.
 * Gaihō Gōra (鎧包業羅): Using the Iron Body Talisman (金剛符), Benio increases her defense for combat.
 * Hiten Shunkyaku (飛天駿脚): Using the Fast Leg Talisman (韋駄天符), Benio increases her speed in combat.
 * Raisai Senkan (来災先観): Using the Star Reading Talisman (星動読符), Benio improves her kinetic vision in combat.
 * Banish All Evils (万魔調伏): Using the Purification Blade Talisman (斬浄穢符), Benio enables her sword to harm Impurities.
 * Zekka Kaijin (絶火灰燼): Using the Flame Talisman (火炎符), Benio envelopes her swords in flames.


 * Izayoi Higan no Mai (十六夜彼岸の舞):


 * Obororenge no Mai (朧蓮華の舞): She attacks the opponent with quick and rapid attacks multiple times, slashing at her enemy. It has been described by Rokuro as a "super high speed continuous tackle".
 * Shatei Zero-kyori Henbai Mōko no Kata (射程零距離・反閇猛虎の型):


 * Kyōka Rakugetsu-dan (鏡花落月断): Benio jumps in the air and performs a single descending slash with her swords capable of cutting a large Impurity in half.


 * Mutō Kūmei Hoozuki Hanbei Shayō no Kata (無刀・空明鬼灯 反閇・斜陽の型):

Byakurin Tōki
Byakurin Tōki (白凛闘牙): After Benio loses her legs, Kamui from whom she asks for power gives her these "Impurity" legs. They give her tremendous speed which aids her fighting style that relies on fast attacks.
 * Mutō Obororenge: Henbai Hien no Kata (無刀・朧蓮華 反閇飛燕の型): Using her Byakurin Toki, she attacks her enemy with speed that the eye can't follow. Her attack density improves, Yuto said that her attacks are comparable to a Basara.
 * Mutō Hakudō Oniyuri: Henbai Rōga no Kata (無刀・白道鬼百合 反閇狼牙の型):
 * Gyokuto Tenshōdan (玉兎天衝弾):
 * Mutō Hyōrin Tsubaki: Henbai Murasame no Kata (無刀・氷輪椿 反閇・叢雨の型):

Abilities
Benio's enchanted guardian is first perceived as Doman Ashiya, one of her ancestors, but later it was revealed by Chinu that all Twin Star Exorcists do not have guardians, instead they gain spell power from their ancestors' spirits, for the females, it's only limited before they lose power and began to seek transformation.

After she transformed to her true form, the "Great Yin", she has immense spell power, which can defeat a powerful basara Kaguya with the help of Kamui.

Twin Star Exorcists Unique Abilities

 * Resonance: An ability exclusive to Twin Star Exorcists, it allows Benio and Rokuro to combine and multiply each other's power.
 * Sky Strizer:
 * World End Overlay:
 * Crimson Meteor Smash:
 * Gaihō Byakurin Tōki Gyokuto Gyōkokuzan (鎧包 白凛闘牙 玉兎暁哭山):
 * Gold Smash - Bloody Glaive (・):
 * Reunion Spiral Hell: Benio and Rokuro hold each other by one of their hands, and together hold a sword with the other. Then, they spin vertically like a wheel at great speed to attack the target.

Anime Only

 * Glory Impulse: After concentrating energy into one of her swords, Benio shoots a powerful beam to destroy the enemy.
 * Vanishing Golt Smash: Resonance version of Gold Smash


 * Reception: An ability exclusive only to the twin Star Exorcists, it allows Rokuro and Benio to hear the voices of the impurities.

Other Abilities
Esoteric Buddhist Mantra: With this mantra, she is able to heal wounds by chanting "Abira, Unken, Sowaka".

Rokuro Enmado
Benio dislikes Rokuro when they first meet, because he is more powerful than her but dislikes fighting, something she considers unacceptable and selfish for an exorcist.

After they are told that they are the Twin Star Exorcists and will have to marry and have a child, she opposes the idea considering him a disgrace as a partner due to his lack of sense of justice. However, after seeing him fight to protect others, she starts to accept him as an exorcist and motivates him to become one again. When they learn of each other's dark pasts and start fighting together, they start understanding and becoming more comfortable with one another. After the fight with Yuto she already seems to like him, though she herself is unaware of her feelings.

After the time skip, both seem to have become even closer. They bicker less and behave in a much friendlier way, even being told by others multiple times to stop flirting in public. She is even openly jealous when Rokuro is approached by other women. In chapter 33, it was revealed that she has indeed fallen in love with Rokuro and they shared their first kiss. Upon losing her exorcise abilities, Benio is separated from Rokuro as he alone, and Mayura reach the Tsuchimikado Island, making Benio desperate to regain her power and reunite with Rokuro, even if it means illegally corporation with a Basara (Kamui). Her determination has Benio forfeit her humanity in turn becomes a "Great Yin" Impurity, also having Chinu cast a spell to temporary retain her human appearance as to avoid severe punishment and sticking with Rokuro. Fortunately to her, Rokuro still happily accept her after she reveals the truth of her 'Great Yin' form. Four years after that, Rokuro finally propose to her during one of their missions, which she happily accepts.

Kamui
A powerful Basara that murdered Benio's parents at age 8, which completely changed her life. She encounters him again eight years later, though despite the progress she had made is still no match for Kamui. Rokuro intervenes in time to backup Benio. Regardless, of their combined strength wasn't enough to overpower Kamui, he albeit is impress to spare them and wishes for another challenge when they become worthy eventually. Ironically, Kamui steps in giving Benio a helping-hand when her legs got severed by her traitorous brother and replace them with impurity ones. Despite their antagonistic relationship and forbidden exorcist-impurity association, they desperately search for the very first impurity. After Benio becomes 'Great Yin', Benio realizes she unintentionally caused Kamui to have a change of heart. She clearly states that she won't forgive Kamui for killing her parents, but asked him to live his life atoning for his crimes until the day she is able to exorcise him, symbolizing defined respect and understanding between the two. It is implied that the journey the two have traveled together and the impact of Benio on Kamui has caused him to stop killing humans.

Kamui is the one enemy (besides Yuto) that Benio really wants to defeat.

Yuto Ijika
Originally, Benio admired her older brother, and greatly looked up to him, a fact proved by her wearing the hairpins that were gifted to her from Yuto for the longest time. Through flashbacks, it can be seen that Benio had always tried to become like her brother - at least what she perceived of him (a kind, strong, and virtuous exorcist). When Yuto revealed that he was behind the Hiinatsuki Tragedy, and that his kind demeanor had been a façade, Benio was utterly heartbroken, and gradually came to hate Yuto. Benio was so ashamed of Yuto, that she apologized to Rokuro by bowing to him and crying out for forgiveness on behalf of the Adashino Family.

Benio now recognizes Yuto as an enemy, and has put their whole past behind her. However, she did feel sympathy for him after seeing flashes of his visions and understanding that he was driven mad by them, as well as seeing his care for her was real but was twisted by his corruption.

After Yuto's demise, Benio grieves his death along with Rokuro, showing that she still loved his brother, despite all what happened.

Mayura Otomi
Benio first met her as a new classmate sitting nearby, and later accidentally spotted her in her and Rokuro's new house. After she learned about the truth, the two had a heated discussion about Rokuro being an exorcist again. Benio is somewhat envious of Mayura's chest size and asks the latter about it. Despite this and the fact that they both like Rokuro, it doesn't get in the way of their newly developed friendship. Later when Mayura was turned into a fallen impurity, Benio, like Rokuro, was determined to save her.

During the two-year time skip, Benio, alongside with Rokuro, helped her with the training to become an exorcist.

In the fight with Hijirimaru and Higano, Mayura gained her power as a Guardian, for the sake of protecting her, Sayo and others. After she was exhausted, Sayo did the identification ceremony to awaken Benio's power. Being the only one who witnessed Benio's impurity form, she was shocked but still thought she was a human.

At the airport, when she and Rokuro were heading to the Tsuchimikado Island, Benio told her she would be strive to regain her power. She seemed pleased and told Benio that this would make her more motivated.

After the second time skip, Mayura is full support of Benio and Rokuro's engagement and wishes the best of luck.

In anime, Mayura was fond of Benio from the very beginning and was the first person Benio opened up to and was her first friend. They share a very strong bond and trust each other completely. Mayura is constantly worried about Benio's well-being whilst she is in Magano and admires her courage.

Etymology

 * The name Benio means "crimson, deep red" (紅) (beni) and "thread" (緒) (o).

Trivia

 * In the early chapters, Benio had blue eyes, but it was later changed to green.
 * The reason she is cold and doesn't like to talk is the trauma of her parents' death.
 * As the story progresses, Benio begins to improve his skills, not only as an exorcist but also as a cook.
 * In the anime, Benio only changes her school uniform to the standard Narukami High uniform after the 2-year timeskip.