Shiki is in fact not a real member of the Tohno family, is not Akiha’s biological brother, and is not Makihisa’s son. While the Tohno family is a family with demon blood, Shiki’s real surname is Nanaya, a family of powerful demon-slaying assassins. It is revealed in Kagetsu Tohya that he is the son of Kiri Nanaya. The Nanaya clan lived in a secluded mansion in the mountains, but was one night destroyed by the Tohno and Kouma Kishima. Shiki was the only survivor of that attack. In a moment of amused irony, Makihisa spared and adopted the boy because his name was unisex with the name of Makihisa’s eldest son, Shiki ( SHIKI?).