Rikuo’s personalities finally blend together, and this yokai manga gets exciting.
Creative Staff
Story and Art: Hiroshi Shiibashi
Translation: Yumi Okamoto
Adaptation: Mark Giambruno
Content: (Please note that the content portion of a review may contain spoilers.)
This volume opens with a flashback. We see the kind human Gyuki began as before anguish and hatred at the demon who killed his mother turned him into a yokai. After years of ruling the mountain, he was defeated by Rikuo’s grandfather – but instead of killing him, the old leader let him and his group join the Nura Clan. Now, Gyuki sees Rikuo’s human side as a threat to the Nura Clan’s existence, and the only solution is to kill him. Unsurprisingly, demon-form Rikuo manages to beat Gyuki, but he surprises everyone when he decides to pardon the would-be traitor.
When Rikuo returns to his human form the next day, his feelings are the same – and so are his memories. Even though it’s still unclear why they had to be separated to begin with, both Rikuo’s human and yokai personalities come together enough that Rikuo can remember his actions, and understand why his leadership is needed.
A three chapter interlude puts Rikuo’s friend Kana in the spotlight, as she’s attacked by Ungaikyo (Purple Mirror), a yokai that promised to come get her when she turned thirteen. Though the Paranormal Patrol come to find her, she’s in a place only yokai can go – luckily night is falling, and Rikuo finds her. As a yokai he defeats the mirror with ease, but Kana won’t let him go, begging to learn more about him. Obliging, yokai Rikuo takes her to a yokai restaurant, where Kana soon becomes terrified of being eaten. Rikuo later believes his yokai side was being cruel to take Kana to such a scary place, but a statement from that person, “It’s best that she’s scared”, implies that he may be trying to make Kana afraid to keep her from being too curious for her own good. This section may also get readers a bit confused about Kana’s feelings: while she still acts like a stalker, curious over Tsurara and Rikuo’s relationship as she spies from afar, her persistent, blushing questions she asks about the yokai (who she thinks is Rikuo’s friend) might say her affections lie with a different person(ality).
The proper story gets back on track in the next chapter, when Nurahihyon holds a ceremony to officially declare Rikuo his successor. There is a strange moment when we see Rikuo’s mother for the very first time (I honestly thought that she was dead until this point) but then the story moves along, as the clan leaders question Rikuo on Gyuki’s presence. Despite his wish to keep it secret, news of Gyuki’s treason has leaked out, and some of the clan leaders are none too happy to see the culprit unpunished. But Rikuo quickly brushes off the suggestion of disbanding Gyuki’s clan, as that would leave the west side of the Nura territory unprotected. Rikuo’s easy, but unbudging, manner, and his steadfast faith in Gyuki, disarms the leaders, until no one has anything to say against his decision.
But while this is going on, trouble brews as another clan begins an invasion, planning to kill Nurarihyon, still the Supreme Commander until Rikuo turns 13. When Karasu-Tengu’s sons find Lord Hihi’s clan destroyed, security is beefed up on all sides – which for Rikuo means even more plainly obvious yokai following him to school. But the bratty old Nurarihyon doesn’t want to be followed, and takes off on his own. Out in the city he meets Yura, the onmyoji, and since she doesn’t realize what he is, begins a conversation. He’s unconcerned with her determination to kill Nurarihyon (him), and instead feels a growing respect for the girl. Just then they are attacked by Muchi of the Wind. When she manages to send Nurarihyon to safety, Yura gets the chance to show off her real powers as she attacks with three of her shikigami. In the end it’s no use, as she is poisoned and Muchi takes off after Nurarihyon. But even when Muchi has the Supreme Commander cornered, winning proves more difficult than he thought as the old grandpa shows just how touch he can be…
In Summary
Nura‘s character count increases as Gyuki’s clansmen are held hostage at the main house, but somehow in the pile of characters their personalities remain distinct enough to avoid much confusion. The diversion chapters are interesting, as we get to see another of the strange yokai, and the plot focuses more on just Kana than the entire crazy Paranormal Patrol. Seeing one of the biggest fights of the volume focus on a female character – Yura – is also pretty gratifying, and even though Nurarihyon finishes of Muchi in a fraction of the time, knowing that he’s a supremely powerful yokai leader makes it feel like less of a slight against female fighters.
The biggest improvement this volume is Rikuo. He’s finally gotten back some of that lovable spunk he lost way back in chapter one, and it’s great to see him at it when he stands up to all the leaders that want to speak against him. Though he still plays Mr. Nice Guy at school, his human side has toughened up enough so I can be excited about what that Rikuo will do, instead of waiting through the chapters for his cooler yokai blood to come out. I’ll never understand why Shiibashi thought to water him down like that to begin with, but I’m glad to see Rikuo back to where he started.
Content Grade: B-
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: B
Text Translation Grade: A-
Age Rating: 13 +
Released By: VIZ Media
Release Date: June 7th, 2011
MSRP: $9.99