Hirachika Takamine (高峯比良近) is a character from Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying manga series.
Description[]
Hirachika is the head of the Takamine family, an over 200 year old clan that is part of the Ashina Clan. He was once known as "Takamine the Spear", but his hand was injured in a battle with Hanbei the Undying, leaving him unable to wield his spear. Following the Ashina Clan orders, he was helping Doujun with his experiments. When his son Kodou Takamine, got seriously injured, he asked Doujun to save him by any means. As Doujun needed Hanbei for his experiments, Hirachika lured and faced Hanbei, but was killed by him.
Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying[]
Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying Chapter 4[]
Doujun asks Takamine about what they should do with Hanbei. Takamine then states he send a messenger to thank Hanbei for saving the villagers and invite him to his place.
Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying Chapter 5[]
Years ago, during a battle, Takamine easily goes through the enemy line, until he faces Hanbei.
Takamine visits Doujun to check on his research. Doujun explains that there is a rejuvenating stream of water in Ashina that comes from a mysterious source, with the heavy concentration of that water being called rejuvenating sediment. Anyone who ingest it obtains the power of a beast, becoming resistant to slashes and stabs, making them incredibly difficult to kill. Those who drink it gain "Red Eyes". If they can create it themselves, they won't fear anyone, however at the moment Doujun's research isn't going well and one of his test subjects escaped. Doujun explains that according to Confucianism, insects that have consumed rejuvenating sediment and adapted can become special beings. If a person eats a beast that has eaten such insect can rarely become "infested". The insect will repair all his body damage, making him close to immortal. If Hanbei is an infested as they say, then he would be a excellent research subject. Takamine states that he wants this "undying", but Doujun states that Genichirou also wants it and any interference will be seen as treason.
Back on the battlefield from years ago, Takamine wonders if Hanbei is the one they call undying, and that he will test if he truly can die or not. Takamine then attacks Hanbei, but he manages to injure Takamine's arm.
Back at the research, Takamine slips and falls. Doujun wonders if his research will lead to healing Takamine's arm, and then they will have Eight Ashina Spears. Takamine however feels he belittles him for not being counted among the Seven Ashina Spears. However Takamine doesn't care and states if he just needs Hanbei alive. Takamine intends to test his undying and already taken measurements to lure him out. Elsewhere, Suzu gathers mushrooms in the forest and decides to go deeper to find more.
Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying Chapter 6[]
Hanbei and Shoukichi figure out that Takamine took Suzu and head to his mansion. As there is no one, they enter. But as they pass through a hallway, Hanbei feels that the place is strange and that the hallway is the only way to reach the interior of the mansion. From the other end of the hallway, Takamine shows up. He recognizes Hanbei, since he was the one who injured him, but guesses he may indeed be undying as Isshin had cut him down. Shoukichi asks Takamine if he knows where his sister is, since she disappeared, but Takamine yells him to keep quiet as he doesn't have time for his petty problems. Hanbei tells Shoukichi that they should go back outside, since in this hallway Takamine has the advantage with his spear, however in that moment the door behind them closes. Shoukichi recognizes the man as one of the brigands that lost its eye to Hanbei. Hanbei is now sure that the disappearances are related to Takamine, but tells him that if he gives Suzu back, he will do whatever he wants.
Takamine recalls an order from Ashina that he is forced to obey. He notes that if Ashina Clan falls, the Takamine Clan will fall too, although it may be worse for Takamine Clan if Ashina wins the war with the internal ministry. Takamine is angry that a disgraced member of the opposition, Masataka Oniwa, was instated as the Minister of Justice, yet Takamine was given nothing. The only differences between them is that Takamine Clan controls vast majority of land, so they cannot be allowed to have more power. If Ashina defeats the internal ministry, there will be a reason to destroy Takamine Clan, but for now they are forced to obey them. Takamine is sad that his son got killed, as he could have been one of the Ashina Spears and one day the Takamine Clan to raise to glory. Takamine looks at his son, Kodou, the other brigand that Hanbei injured. Doujun explains that Kodou's leg wound is too deep and he may never swing a sword again, and with so much blood loss, he may even not survive. Takamine tells Doujun to save Kodou. Doujun agrees and states that he may even make him transcend the limits of a human body.
As Takamine prepares to fight Hanbei, Hanbei is worried that if he and the brigand attack him, he won't stand a chance, since that man is also skilled. Hanbei then tells Shoukichi to guard his back, and to just not allow that man to attack him from behind. Takamine then reveals that he is indeed responsible for the kidnappings as he was using the people for immortality test subjects, however they all end up being ghost-like creatures. He guesses Suzu will also become such creature. As Takamine attacks again, Hanbei steps on his spear, noting that he is afraid to grab his spear and is only aiming at his legs. Hanbei then runs on the spear and shoves his arm into Takamine's mouth, and kills him.