Himeno

Himeno (姫野) was a Public Safety Devil Hunter, working under Makima's special squad. She was partnered with Aki Hayakawa.

Appearance
Himeno is a young woman with short smooth dark hair. She has a eye-patch on her right eye and she is usually seen wearing her suit with black tie.

Personality
Himeno is shown to be a mature and experienced superior to the new recruits working under her. She generally carries herself with upbeat body language and is capable of staying calm under extremely stressful situations, such as the initial phase of her group's battle against the Eternity Devil. Himeno motivated Denji by offering him a french kiss, implying that she's at least somewhat perceptive of the people around her and is willing to take unorthodox approaches in order to ensure the best possible results from him.

Himeno is shown to be very efficient and blunt in her duty as a Devil Hunter. She responded to a small and seemingly insignificant Devil by almost immediately using her Ghost Devil to subdue it. She's shown to have a more stern side and little tolerance for behavior from new recruits that would endanger or harm her subordinates, as she swiftly took out Kobeni Higashiyama when the latter attempted to stab Denji.

Himeno is shown to be a rather caring and empathetic person. She cares for the well-being of her fellow Devil Hunters, as shown by her desire to not betray Denji during their first mission together. In a brief flashback scene, Himeno was shown to be very patient and tolerant to those that are suffering when a late partner's former girlfriend lashed out and slapped her out of grief.

However, despite this cheerful presentation Himeno also holds an extremely pessimistic worldview as a result of having witnessed multiple partners die suddenly in her line of work. This knowledge that Devil Hunters typically die as a result of their career combined with the teachings of her master eventually lead to her developing a nicotine addiction as a coping mechanism. Himeno even went as far as to pressure Aki into taking up smoking as a new recruit, citing the fact that Devil Hunters don't usually live long enough to suffer from the negative side effects of prolonged use of tobacco anyway.

Himeno has strongly internalized another old teaching of her master: that only Devil Hunters "who have a couple of screws loose" are ultimately successful, due to the general sense of unpredictability presented by their willingness to do unusual things to take down opponents.

Himeno cares deeply for Aki, whom she trained as a new recruit and has a close personal bond with. In fact, Himeno considered the side effects of Aki using his sword bad enough that it would be worth sacrificing Denji to prevent. This puts into perspective how much she values Aki's well-being.

History
Himeno went through five other partners in the past before meeting Aki for the first time at a graveyard. Kishibe introduced him to her as her new buddy. Himeno questions him if he's useful and states that all of her previous partners died because they were useless before telling him not to die.

In on of their early patrols Himeno asks Aki if he smokes, and that he should get into it since they won't live long as devils hunters die anyway. She concludes that the only reason he's in the Special Division is because he wants to take down the Gun Devil.

On the streets Himeno and Aki encounter the girlfriend of one of Himeno's previous buddies who died. She slaps Himeno and walks away. After Himeno explains the situation Aki runs after the woman and sticks a piece of gum to her hair in childish revenge for being pissed off. Himeno breaks down with laughter. They visit Tenten Chinese Restaurant for a meal together and Himeno relates a saying she heard from a master about how the most scary devil hunters to the devils aren't the strong or the brave but the most insane. She convinces Aki to take a cigarette since she hopes their relationship together will be a long one and Aki reluctantly accepts.

Bat Devil arc
Himeno was one of the devil hunters accompanying Aki Hayakawa as he saved Denji from the Leech Devil. Aki told her to keep an eye out for anymore devils.

Himeno accompanied Aki to the hospital to visit Denji and watched over Power who was in handcuffs while Denji was being questioned.

Himeno and Aki took down a devil that had been fed a chunk of the Gun Devil's flesh at the coast. She wondered if the devil had eaten the Gun Devil's flesh or if it had been purposefully fed it. Himeno is later selected to be part of a six-man team to enter the Morino Hotel and track down the devil within which has also eaten a piece of the Gun Devil.

Eternity Devil arc
As they approach the Morino Hotel Aki becomes angry at Denji and Power over a prank they pulled on him earlier that morning. Himeno tells him to stop being strict with them all the time which Denji seconds, and after Denji demands a reward Himeno offers that anyone who kills the devil inside the hotel will get a kiss on the cheek from her. Hirokazu protests herself offering her lips out so easily but Himeno believes it is okay since a reward will add extra motivation.

Denji initially attempts to dismiss the offer since he has his sights on Makima but Himeno gets in his face and states that if he manages to kill the devil that she'll give him a proper kiss with tongue which gets Denji excited.

The group move through the corridors of the hotel with Himeno commenting that nothing is more fun than teasing boys as Denji and Hirokazu compete with each other. Aki questions Himeno on their new recruits and Himeno comments that Hirokazu lacks in ability but makes up for it in drive whereas Kobeni is meek and timid but actually talented. She questions him about his recruits and he states that Power's loyalty is unlikely and that Denji has too many unknown factors. When she asks him if they will survive, Aki dodges the question. As they reach the end of the corridor a door opens and a devil in the appearance of a walking head emerges.

The head rushes at Kobeni but Himeno catches it in the air with her Ghost Hand so that Power can cut it in two. When Power tries to take credit for the feat, Himeno clarifies that she has a contract with the Ghost Devil and that she used its invisible arm to hold the devil. They discover the devil does not have a Gun Devil fragment inside it so they continue onward. Power teases by Himeno about revealing her powers so easily and threatens Kobeni to make a point, but Himeno chokes her with the Ghost Devil's arm. Making a point to Power that she could kill her at any time, Himeno tells her that they should all just get along.

When Hirokazu notices that they're still on the eighth floor after ascending the stairs, he goes downstairs and ends up back on the same floor which shocks Himeno. She tests it out herself by telling Kobeni to throw up double-peace signs and rushing down the stairs to return to the same floor and see her doing the same pose. When Kobeni begins to panic and fluster from being trapped in a devil's trap, Himeno consoles her and warns her that fear is a devil's favorite food.

Denji goes to sleep and wakes up a while later with Himeno greeting him. Himeno explains the current situation; that Aki is still searching for the devil, Hirokazu has locked himself in a room and having a breakdown, and that Kobeni already had a breakdown and tried drinking from the toilet forcing Himeno to knock her out. Denji asks about Power who is on the next bed over ranting about her plan to become Prime Minister after acquiring the Nobel Prize and causing misery for humans. Denji tells Himeno that Power is as normal as ever.

The three of them take turns guarding Hirokazu and Kobeni and Himeno begins smoking her last cigarette. She reveals that she was the one who talked Aki into taking cigarettes. Aki stops by and asks for a cigarette, and shares Himeno after she tells him that it's her last one. He reveals that the devil they thought they killed earlier is still alive and that it has grown much larger, almost filling the end of the corridor and has grown a multitude of heads and limbs. Himeno wonders what kind of devil it is, and the devil states that it will offer them a contract so that they can escape if they kill Denji and feed him to it. Kobeni emerges from her room, asking Denji to let himself be eaten.

Aki disarms Kobeni, and Himeno swiftly knocks her out with an elbow strike. The Eternity Devil laughs at Kobeni's treatment causing Himeno to tell it shut up. She asks Aki to deal with it using his Fox Devil but he is unable to summon it. Himeno uses her Ghost Devil's arm to gouge out chunks of the devil's flesh but it merely swells up to be even larger than before.

The group discuss the devil's offer of a contract to escape which Himeno confirms is legitimate. Aki votes against killing Denji since it would benefits the devil in some way, and Himeno agrees with him. Aki reveals that he could probably let them escape if he uses the power of his sword but Himeno tells him not to since the conditions of the contract are too harsh. She tells Denji that if it comes down to Aki using the sword or sacrificing Denji, then Denji has to be sacrificed. Kobeni's and Hirokazu's rising fear fuels the Eternity Devil's growth and he chases after Himeno and the group, tilting the space they're trapped in to disorient them and transform the corridor they're standing in into a tunnel that leads towards his mouth.

Aki asks for Himeno's permission to use his sword but Himeno restrains him instead and apologizes to Denji. Kobeni and Hirokazu attack Denji and try to stab him, but Aki breaks free of Himeno's grip and throws himself in front of the knife. Himeno breaks down in shock, remembering her deceased former partners. Denji decides to throw himself into the mouth of the Eternity Devil in order to cause it so much pain that it will wish it was dead. Before he jumps, he tells Himeno to remember that she promised him a kiss if he kills the devil. Himeno watches in shock with the others as Denji transforms inside the Eternity Devil's mouth and begins batting it.

Watching Denji torture the Eternity Devil, Himeno is reminded of her master telling her that the most fearsome devil hunters are the craziest ones. When Denji is almost defeated by having his neck broken Himeno uses her Ghost Devil arm to pull his chainsaw cord to regenerate him. Himeno is so impressed that she begins to believe he could beat the Gun Devil. The battle continues for three more days until the Eternity Devil final surrenders and is killed.

Himeno emerges from the hotel with the rest of the group and order Hirokazu and Kobeni to report the incident to Public Safety while she and Power take Aki and Denji to the hospital.

Later, Himeno and Aki recover a fragment of the Gun Devil from the Eternity Devil's corpse. She suggests throwing a newbie welcome party together to celebrate their successful mission and to get all of Division 4 in one place together for the first time. Aki states he will only go if he could drink with Makima, and Himeno mentions they might be able to get some information out of Makima if she gets drunk, such as why she is so interested in Denji.

At the party Himeno is already drunk after drinking a lot of beer and informs everyone that Makima will be late. Denji reminds her that she promised him a kiss for taking down the Eternity Devil but Himeno claims that she's too shy to do it sober so she'll give him an intense kiss when she's more drunk. As the newbies introduce themselves to the rest of the team Himeno is shocked to learn that Denji is only sixteen and makes sure that he hasn't drunk any alcohol. She asks Fushi about the new recruit that was working with him and offers condolences when he reveals that they're already dead. One of the devil hunters at the party talks to Denji and informs him that Himeno starts kissing everyone when she's drunk which Denji celebrates as his kiss as practically a guarantee. Suddenly Makima appears and questions Denji on who he is going to kiss forcing Denji into a state of indecisiveness as he affirms his desire to kiss Himeno to Himeno and denies it to Makima.

Aki questions Makima on Denji and she responds that she'll only reveal the information to him if he can beat her in a drinking content which Himeno also volunteers for, however Makima easily beats both of them. Himeno approaches Denji and suddenly begins kissing him on the mouth. Denji is initially elated but quickly realizes something is wrong and that Himeno is actually vomiting into his mouth as she's kissing him. He's unable to prevent himself from swallowing her bile and later has to be helped out in the toilets by Hirokazu.

When the party disbands Makima looks for Denji but Fushi reveals that Himeno carried him away on her back. Denji later wakes up in Himeno's apartment with her leaning over him and force-feeding him alcohol through more kissing. He comments that he feels weird and Himeno starts talking to him about his feelings towards Makima, saying that he should move on from her and that Aki should to. She lies down next to him and asks him if he wants to "do it".

Himeno clarifies that she means sex and Denji silently consents and lets her strip him. As Himeno reaches his pants, she discovers a chupa-chups lollipop in his pocket. Himeno quickly falls asleep afterwards and Denji laments missing his chance but states that he wants Makima to be his first. He wakes up the next morning with Himeno eagerly greeting him and offering him breakfast. They talk on her balcony where she gets clarification from him that she didn't force herself on him which makes her relieved.

She verifies that he does have genuine feelings for Makima and suggests that the two of them form an alliance; she will help set him up with Makima if he helps her get set up with Aki. Denji agrees to her proposal and Himeno states that the two of them are friends now and that he should come around for breakfast once in a while, along with Aki and Power.

Katana Man arc
Himeno goes to a restaurant with Denji, Aki Hayakawa and Power. Power asks Himeno and Denji whether or not they had sex the previous night and Himeno denies it, stating that Denji is quite the gentleman.

A man across from then in the restaurant starts giving them a lecture on a person's tastes and brings up his grandfather whom Denji was employed by. He pulls out a gun and shoots Denji, Aki and Himeno in quick succession before being stunned by Power and swallowed whole by Aki's Fox Devil. Himeno lies in the rubble of the restaurant bleeding out which shocks Aki. The man emerges from the Fox Devil's head, transformed into the Katana Man which prompts Aki to pull out his sword to defend Himeno as he orders Power to stop Himeno's bleeding.

Power takes care of Himeno as Aki fights the Katana Man, and after the Katana Man is seemingly defeated she informs Aki that Himeno needs a doctor quickly.

After Aki is cut down by the resurrected Katana Man, Himeno orders Power to save Aki but Power refuses, as the Katana Man is too fast even for her to track. Himeno asks her Ghost Devil, but the Ghost Devil refuses as well, claiming that Akane Sawatari is too scary. Himeno begins bleeding profusely from the mouth and makes an offer to the Ghost Devil; she'll give the Ghost Devil all of her body in exchange for being able to use all of the Ghost Devil. The Ghost Devil eagerly smiles in acceptance.

Himeno manifests the full body of the Ghost Devil and uses it to battle the Katana Man. At first she is successful in overwhelming him but Akane brings out her Snake Devil to assist the Katana Man and instantly swallows the Ghost Devil. Himeno's entire body vanishes, leaving only her clothes behind. In her final moments she uses the Ghost Devil's arm to pull Denji's chainsaw cord, regenerating him and allowing him to fight in her place.

Later in the hospital Denji reflects on Himeno's death and how she was the first person to call herself his friend, but he feels nothing. He begins to wonder if he might be heartless as a result of this.

In Aki's battle against Akane and the Ghost Devil that she now controls, Aki is almost defeated until he receives a cigarette from the Ghost Devil that he had given to Himeno. The cigarette has the words "Easy revenge!" written on it, and Aki uses the opportunity to decapitate the Ghost Devil.

With the ringleaders of the terrorist group arrested and the Katana Man defeated, Denji throws a tournament in Himeno's memory where he and Aki take turns kicking the Katana Man in the nuts to make him scream. The two of them have fun and pay their respects to Himeno through this.

Devil Contract
Ghost Devil Contract: Himeno has the ability to use the power of the Ghost Devil in exchange for sacrificing her right eye permanently to the devil.
 * Ghost Arm: Himeno can summon and control the right arm of the Ghost Devil which is invisible and intangible. This arm is strong enough to gouge large wounds into the Eternity Devil's flesh.
 * Arm Summoning: By exchanging her whole body, Himeno can summon multiple arms from the Ghost Devil to attack and overwhelm her opponent.

Skillset
Hand-to-Hand Combat: Himeno is a skilled fighter, instantly incapacitating Kobeni Higashiyama after she had been disarmed.

Etymology

 * The name Himeno means "princess" (姫) (hime) and "field, wilderness" (野) (no).

Trivia

 * Himeno's ranking in the Popularity Polls are as follows;
 * Himeno ranked 11th in the First Popularity Poll, with 7,167 votes.
 * Himeno ranked 8th in the Second Popularity Poll, with 27,612 votes.