Descendants of Darkness
| Descendants of Darkness | |
Cover of the first volume
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闇の末裔 (Yami no Matsuei) |
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| Genre | Occult detective, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Yoko Matsushita |
| Published by | Hakusensha |
| English publisher | |
| Demographic | Shōjo |
| Magazine | Hana to Yume |
| Original run | June 20, 1996 – present |
| Volumes | 12 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Hiroko Tokita |
| Studio | J.C.Staff |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | WOWOW |
| English network | |
| Original run | October 2, 2000 – December 18, 2000 |
| Episodes | 13 |
Descendants of Darkness (Japanese: 闇の末裔 Hepburn: Yami no Matsuei?) is a fantasy manga series created by Yoko Matsushita. The story revolves around shinigami. These Guardians of Death work for Enma Daiō, the king of the dead, sorting out the expected and unexpected arrivals to the Underworld.
Asato Tsuzuki is a 'Guardian of Death' for over 70 years. He has the power to call upon twelve shikigami, mythical creatures that aid him in battle. The manga portrays Tsuzuki's relationship with the shinigami in much more detail. Tsuzuki is the senior partner of the Second Division, which watches over the region of Kyūshū.
In the anime, the story begins when Chief Konoe, the boss, and the other main characters begin talking about murders happening in Nagasaki. The victims all have bite marks and a shortage of blood, which leads to the case being known as "The Vampire Case".
After some food troubles, Tsuzuki travels to Nagasaki with Gushoshin, a flying creature/helper who can speak, and together they do a bit of investigating. The rule is that Guardian of Death are supposed to work in pairs, and until Tsuzuki meets up with his new partner, he needs someone to watch him. However, Gushoshin gets held back by groceries, and Tsuzuki is on his own again.
While exploring Nagasaki, Tsuzuki hears a scream and has a literal run-in with a strange woman, who leaves blood on his collar. Coming to the conclusion that this is a sign that the woman might be the vampire, Tsuzuki tries to follow her, coming into a church called Oura Cathedral. The church scene is the first encounter between Tsuzuki and the antagonist of the story, Muraki.
Doctor Kazutaka Muraki is painted as a pure figure in his first scene, with much religious and color symbolism. He meets Tsuzuki with tears in his eyes, and Tsuzuki, a bit thrown off by this, manages only to ask if Muraki has seen a woman go by. Tsuzuki leaves when Muraki says no body has been in the church.
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Wikipedia