Looks: Icily beautiful. A tall, nice body like sculpted in rocks (endless legs that make you gals drool), with another amount of sexy scars. And the Columbo-type clothings. And his silky black hair that frames his serious face. AND his "aoko kouri hitomi" (Misao-kun, you hit in the nose with the song). AND...!! I will shut up or else I'll drool all over the PC. *lol*

Brains: Very good, after all he's an Oniwabanshu. Okina wouldn't have dropped the leadership if he thought Aoshi-kun (remember he was just 15 then) wasn't capable. Can be mislead if the right buttons are pressed on him (ask Shishi-o), but after all, will find light again.

Personality: Extremely complex. Under the ice blue eyes still remains a soul with warmth and tenderness, yet he forces himself to hide them to be strong as a leader. This nearly costed Aoshi everything, from his Oniwabanshu henchmen, to his sanity. Tendence to blame himself, but to an extreme. Someone said about Ryouga "the guy with heart of glass, and fists of steel"; it fits Aoshi as well. When not in his evil mode, you'll find a silent but loyal friend, and completely devoted to make his comrades happy. So dig into it, but tactfully.

Cooking: Mostly from field experience. If he's in the Aoiya, surely won't make anyone sick. In Home Economics field, also, I think he's willing to clean himself every space he is and was in.

Fighting skills: Second to Kenshin in a tie with Saitou (and mebbe Soujiro). He doesn't only rely on his kodachi (short swords - in the early anime he has one, and later gets the others), but in his sharp sixth sense and his kenpo techniques. While honestly Kenshin says that he's useless w/o his sakaba, and Sano wouldn't possibly know what to do with another sword other than the Zanbatou, Aoshi's no man who will be anyone's prey when unarmed. His full potential has to be seen, however.

Special abilities: Obsession range compressed to neutronium density (Jedi Bro horace, you may know what I mean *lol*). Maybe I'd count his capacity to react and keep living after WHAT did he live and do (seeing his comrades being killed for him, making Misao cry, nearly killing Okina, etc). I would've killed myself, and no joke.

Competition: Needless to say, Makimachi Misao. The tomboyish but lovely Oniwabanshu girl is head-over-heels in love with "Aoshi-sama", and she may not be willing to give up on him so easily. Either it's true love, or a little girl's crush. Personally I'd be willing to think it's the first one, and 99% RK fans will agree with me, you never know. In one way or another, I tell you, arm yourself with PATIENCE.

In-Laws: Though not real family, we'll have to count the Oniwabanshu clan. Other than Misao (if she didn't fight you, I mean), they're Okina (the parental figure, a lovely Quixote-looking gramps most of the time), Okon and Omasu (the girls apart of Misao, both great older-sis-type women), Shiro and Kuro (nice guys to have around). As the Kenshin-Gumi, while you're good to Aoshi, no problem.

Finances: As he lives in the Aoiya and helps them in every way he can, while no real richness, you'll do okay while you don't mind helping. They'll need it 4 sure.

Sex: Touch this spot when you've broken the shell only. Shinomori seems the type of man who, after you've done the first step mentioned above, may have more than a trick under his sleeve to show his devotion to his lover. Some speculate that Aoshi, also, may have much more resistance to pain that you'll ever have. But don't try to find out unless he tell you to, or else... ;)

Overall: Much like the ultra-loner Katsu, though even *harder* to get to know. It won't be easy to get him out of the Zen temple he goes to meditate after the Kyoto arc. You'll have to learn to live and cut up with his silence and some guilt trips, but all in all, Aoshi will take care of you and your children and make *sure* you'll be safe.