Marked and Awakened are transformations of sorts from the “Dreigiau” story. You can see a sample of them here in this artwork — it shows TsuYa (Tai) in his Marked form fighting his brother SoYa who is Awakened through Zemi’s powers: http://aywren.deviantart.com/art/Awakened-Vs-Marked-113046313

As you’ve noted, it has to do with history. He actually has three or four different names, depending on which story he appears in, and can be called by any of them, interchangeably.

He has been around for a long, long time in the history of this world, and was first introduced in the story of “Dreigiau.” His original name from his homeworld was “TsuYa” or sometimes just “Tsu.” Those who knew him from that world (Zazo, Zemi and a few others), would continue to call him by that name.

He was taken by Zerom and turned into a dark Marked Champion during “Dreigiau” and later appears in the “Shimmer” manga using the name “TsuMeTai” or simply “TsuMe.” I don’t know if it was a name that Zerom gave to him (Zerom is known to change names)… or if he chose to change his name when he became Marked out of shame. He rarely uses “TsuMe” as a name anymore, though there are still some characters that know him best by that name (Kip, Ben, Chase… anyone from the Shimmer storyline).

Tsu was an unexpected addition to Wayrift in that I really thought that he died at the end of the (as of yet unwritten) Shimmer storyline — as you see, Zemi has brought him back from the brink of death. Figments are fickle and I don’t always know how stories are going to end!

Tsu hasn’t yet claimed the name “Tai” officially in Wayrift, but he will. Tai is basically his “Blue Planet” Human name… obviously taken from the end of “TsuMeTai.” Eventually, Tai is going to meet up with Zeb on a mission from Zemi, but he’s trying to stay undercover and seem as “human” as possible… “TsuYa” is fairly obviously Lunar in origin. So when he’s pressed by Zeb to give his name, he pulls “Tai” out of thin air… and that name just sorta stuck with his character ever since. People who know him from Wayrift will call him “Tai.”

Now if you want to get REALLY confusing, his official chosen name on the Blue Planet is now “TsuYaTai.” Though “Ya” remains his last name.

I hope that’s not even MORE confusing than before. If so, just ask and I’ll try to explain again!