#byakko is his fave demon
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this complicates things. ( Eri & Byakkomaru )
Prompt: Miscellaneous Sentence Prompts.
⥠Eri.
"Oh? What does?" Eri would tilt his head as he stood in front of the tiger demon. It's not unusual that as his duty in researching curse gear and ensuring the health of their wielders, that he would be asked to enter some dreamscapes to meet with the demons. He's gotten used to demons attacking him or try to lure him into traps when setting foot into these dreamscapes - but Byakkomaru never did that.
He had never once tried to outright attack Eri, nor lure him into a trap in any way. Demons were understood to be creatures who are in a constant state of hunger and dependency, either they depend on the desire or fear of another life-form. For Byakkomaru to remain composed and even at times, nonchalant, indicates that he was not an ordinary demon. Perhaps this is what makes a Black Demon different than that of a regular one? "Are you talking about the 'monster' that's bothering Kureto and Shinoa? Do you perhaps know of it?"
#muse (1): eri hiiragi.#deathfavor.#âĄ. ă letter with red ink . / reply ă#byakko being eri's source of information because this man does Not go out of the lab#HBJERFERHF#it was a bit difficult to figure out WHEN do these two get to speak#and i remembered that one chap before shit went down#where they were in the hiiragi lab#and shinoa and kureto were bound#eri doing his little demon check ups on byakko#byakko is his fave demon#fluffy#unproblematic#just doing his job#what an unbothered king
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Two cents of ramblings on: âYami no Matsueiâ (Anime)...
...and why I recommend it.
GENERAL DATA
Title: Yami no Matsuei (éăźæ«èŁ âDescendants of Darknessâ)
Media: Anime television series
Adaptation of: Yami no Matsuei (éăźæ«èŁ âDescendants of Darknessâ) ShĆjo manga by Matsushita YĆko
Genre: Dark fantasy, mystery, supernatural
Directed by: Tokira Hiroko
Written by: Amiya Masaharu, Horii Akiko
Studio: J.C. Staff
Original run: October 2, 2000 â December 18, 2000
Episodes: 13
WARNINGS: There are gruesome murder, paedophilia, rape, human experimentation, demonic possession, humans turning into monsters, suicideâŠ
The plot in short: In the world of the dead, Meifu, the JĆ«Ć-chĆ takes care to judge the sins of the deceased. A sub section of this institution is the shĆkan-ka (summoning division), specialized in dealing with troubles in regards to the dead and whose employers are called shinigami. Among them thereâs Tsuzuki Asato, in charge of the KyĆ«shĆ« area who, along with his new partner, Kurosaki Hisoka, is called to investigate on some mysterious deaths happening in that area and that are all connected with surgeon Muraki Kazutaka.
HOW DID I STUMBLE INTO IT
Surprisingly enough, in a time in which everyone was watching the anime, I started with the manga instead, and since I loved it, I decided to watch the anime as well.
THINGS YOU MIGHT WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE TACKLING THIS
Most of the background of the story is a fantasy version of Japanese myths and beliefs so itâs probably funnier/easier to watch it if youâre aware of whatâs the Meifu, whoâs Enma, what are the Shinigami and Shikigami, onmyĆdĆ, how Tsuzukiâs shikigami match the ones of Abe no Seimei and so on. You can still enjoy it though, taking those ideas just as a fantasy concept but you might go into overload at how many are introduced.
MY TWO CENTS ON IT
THE SHORT VERSION⊠or what I can tell you about this while trying to keep spoilers at the very bare minimum.
Opening & ending: The anime uses as opening âEDENâ by To destination and as ending âLOVE MEâ by The Hong Kong Knife.
I love, love, love âEDENâ. The music is beautiful and the imagery is symbolic and well fitting the slow melody. I think itâs a bit of an odd choice to always open it with a voice giving ALWAYS the same explanation of whatâs Meifu and so on but whatever, since not everyone might be familiar with those concepts it might help. âLOVE MEâ is not bad though not something I would call my fave, as it plays we see illustration for the manga which are clearly beautiful but, overall, this montage doesnât tell me much.
The plot: Since itâs solely 13 episodes, the anime decided to focus solely on 4 manga arcs which were, at the time, the most meaningful in the story. Even if the series ends with an open ending, the result is still a coherent enough story that focuses mostly on the main characters but manages to give them story arcs so that you can appreciate their evolution.
The characters: Due to the many arcs cut, some side characters were left out or received little developments. The main one though are well enough developed and interesting to watch as they go through their arcs. Itâs easy to end up loving them.
The visual: In the manga the character design changed often as the authorâs style evolved a lot, the anime went for one that made the characters slender but still pretty. The charactersâ faces are expressive and there are some nice shoots. I like how, although colours arenât generally bright, the eyes of the characters and magic effects always seem to be brighter.
Byakko for example, despite technically being just white with some black stripes, seems to shine.
Suzaku too...
The scenery isnât impressive but accurate enough...
...and when it involves Sakura it can get very pretty.
The musical background:I love it! There is music which is extremely sweet and some which is pretty evocative. I especially love âTozasareta Kokoroâ and âKaeru Bashoâ but also the version of âAkuma no Trillâ (or, if you prefer, âIl trillo del diavoloâ by Giuseppe Tartini) used is awesome or the song âAmethyst Remembranceâ, oh, theyâre really too many, really, kudos to SaitĆ Tsuneyoshi for creating them.
Overall: Itâs a good series, that despite cutting so many parts of the manga manages to still stand up alone and deliver a story, something that canât be always said for more recent works that cut a lot and end up losing the story they were meant to tell.
THE LONG VERSION⊠or what I loved and hated about this with, of course, TONS OF SPOILERS.
So⊠two more words about the opening which I really love. I said the imagery is symbolic, but you donât get how much until you watch the whole series and realize ITâS ALL IN THE OPENING. Basically the opening tells you all thatâs going to happen and you donât even realize until you donât watch the series and connect all the dots. Itâs AWESOME.
Going on with the story. As I said this story is born as a ShĆjo. The three main characters all had, at some point, a female love interest or so it seems. The anime instead preferred to be more ShĆnen ai, focusing on and empathizing on the male relations, mostly cutting out the females one so that, back in 2000, this anime was considered a ShĆnen ai one and fans would get furious is someone were to suggest the characters had female love interests.
Itâs not a praise or a complain, itâs just a choice⊠and in insight not even a bad one as, even in the original story, the male relations were more interesting than the ones the male characters had with the females they met.
On the downside sometimes this ended up tying characters to the stereotypes of the ShĆnen ai more than they were. For example Tsuzuki in the manga can be pretty feral and strong (with a punch he breaks bulletproof glass)⊠but in the anime heâs more ukefied, his strength lying in his Shikigami more than in himself. They also remark his cute/puppy/childish side even more as well as his propensity to cry. Still Tsuzuki remains a wonderful character and one of the most beloved, if not the most beloved.
On the other side Muraki comes out as even more of a pervert and sadistic (and thatâs saying A LOT as Muraki is pretty terrible in the manga too), obsessed with Tsuzuki, with having his attention and his body and jealous of Hisoka.
I said they had cut arcs from the manga⊠but to make up for it they had, in some points expanded the ones they decided to use and, since the manga at the time was ongoing and hadnât developed yet the relation between Saiki and Muraki, they gave Muraki a reason to hate Saiki so that the story would feel solid.
The emotions of the characters are well developed, the evolution of the relationship between Tsuzuki and Hisoka is very good⊠but also very good is how the respective traumas are handled.
The themes of the story are intriguing.
They play on the idea of immortality, if itâs a good or a terrible things...
Tatsumi: Itâs like a small ship sailing off into the sunset. The cherry trees bloom here all year long. What a relazing place... Tsuzuki: You think so. I think itâs because we know blossoms die so soon that theyâre beautiful.
... if itâs right or wrong to sacrifice others to survive...
Tsuzuki: What are you doing? Young Tsuzuki: Caring for the roses. The best way to make pretty roses is to cut off the extra buds. Itâs something all gardeners do. Tsuzuki: But donât you feel sorry for the buds? Theyâre trying their best to become flowers, too. Young Tsuzuki: You have no right to speak that way. Asato. You are a murderer! Like these roses, you have survived nipping peopleâs lives in the buds!! Tsuzuki: No, I just... Young Tsuzuki: Then how do you explain whatâs behind you? Tsuzuki: No, I didnât want to kill them!!
... the fact that the characters are rejected from society because theyâre perceived as monsters...
Tsuzuki: Hey, Hisoka. Muraki said Iâm not human. Then, what AM I? Hisoka: Tsuzuki... Tsuzuki: If Iâm not a human, then I... What AM I, anyway? Hisoka: What do you mean? Tsuzuki: Now I remember, when I was a kid, everyone bullied me. I was different... different from everyone... They accused me of being a monster.
How they can find a place to call home where theyâre accepted...
Hisoka: ...is this Tsuzukiâs past? Discrimination, persecution, loneliness... and hatred of his own existence... Tsuzuki: I knew just what it was that made me different... Hisoka: They treated you so horribly... Tsuzuki: But... I wanted to be with them... I wanted to be a human!! Hisoka: You ARE a human! I guarantee it! Tsuzuki: Hisoka... Hisoka: You've always been a human! So donât cry anymore!
...and...
Hisoka: Up until now... Tsuzuki has rescued me other and over... When I was unable to trust and open myself up to others even after death... he gently held me in his warm arms. He always watched over me with a smile!! Now that Tsuzuki... is in trouble... I want to rescue him!! This time... I WANT TO BE THE ONE TO CONFORT HIM!!!
...and...
Hisoka: The first time I found a place to call âhomeâ... Watari-san... Tatsumi-san... the members of the shĆkan-ka... You are all family to me... And it was Tsuzuki who lead me to accept all of you... Because he was near, I had a place with everyone else. I fight... to rescue Tsuzuki!
... the inescapability of fate...
Muraki: Tsuzuki-san... Even if you kill me you will not be freed from your deep sadness. Those born in the chaos of darkness are doomed to wander eternally through the darkness. There is no escape. Neither for me, nor for you. For we are both descendants of darkness!!
... suicidal thoughts and what helps you to cling to life...
Hisoka: Tsuzuki! Letâs go! Tsuzuki... Tsuzuki: Let me die, Hisoka. Iâve already lived more than my share... I... Iâm just tired. I canât exist anymore. So, godb... Hisoka? Hisoka: THEN STAY AT LEAST FOR MY SAKE!! I donât want to be alone anymore!! Where I belong... is by your side!! I... I need you!! Tsuzuki: Can I... stay with you?
I love the way they handled Hisokaâs problems at connecting with people due to his sad past and his empathy (since he can perceive other peopleâs feelings he has been labeled as a monster by his family and kept imprisoned by them) but also how they handled Tsuzukiâs sense of guilt and fear of being a monster due to the unnatural colour of his eyes.
The series make a good work at capturing the contrast between the two, so that were Hisoka is withdrawn, standoffish and finds hard to make friends, Tsuzuki is extrovert and friendly and extremely caring and warm⊠but also where Hisoka manages to stay psychologically strong despite being weak physically, itâs were Tsuzuki instead break despite being on the outward extremely strong (only magically in the anime, although in the manga he was also strong physically).
And then thereâs Muraki, the bad guy you love to hate.
Muraki is a sadistic killer who rapes a teenager and then kills him slowly, after making him live in pain for three years, murders left and right, manipulates young women and even turn one of them into a monster, obsesses and sexually harass Tsuzuki and might have raped him as well.
But Muraki is a surgeon whoâs supposed to save people and also depicted as charming and looking like an angel, heâs basically all white with white hair and silver eyes and white clothes, and all this contrast with Tsuzuki, whoâs a Shinigami and therefore supposed to kill people and dresses all in black, with dark brown hair and unnaturally purple eyes (which are associated with demons) but whoâs also genuinely a good person, who wants to help others and is tormented due to the nature of his work.
The visual plays a lot on those two, on how theyâre basically yin and yang and itâs great.
And Muraki and Tsuzuki arenât the only two on which the anime plays on contrast, thereâs also Hijiri and Hisoka, Hijiri being open about his feelings while Hisoka guarding them or Hisoka and Tsubaki, Hisoka hating Muraki for what he has done to him while Tsubaki canât help but love him despite how he used her.
Should I also mention how the mystery and the drama in the story are excellent but the funny moments too are overall very nice?
And yeah, I said there are gruesome murders but the anime, differently from other animes, present them in a tasteful manner, the gory scenes are implied not shown for the sake to gross us out. You get the horror of the deaths⊠but you donât get the stomach turning visual.
And what about the use of the music? The music is beautiful and itâs really well used to underline the mood of each scene. Here too they did a great work.
Really, itâs an old anime and not as good as the manga (despite the manga being still unfinished) but itâs still a good transposition of the manga and a story that can stand on its own.
If you can stomach what a horrible person Muraki is I wholeheartedly recommend it.
And now letâs end this with an AMV about this series I recommend watching: Possession
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#Yami no Matsuei#Descendants of Darkness#J.C. Staff#dark fantasy#mystery#supernatural#anime television series#Shoujo#Recommended#2000
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