Black Bird Review: A Fan Rave
I haven't finished the manga yet but I feel compelled to write this down this early.
It is AWESOME!
Rating: 5/5
P.S. I'll probably come back and add some more to this post.
Update:
I just finished the manga and the plot is really great! Now, I don't want to write spoilers for it because I have become a fan in the process. My rating, after reading the whole series, is...
5/5.
It is worth reading! BEAUTIFUL STORY!
Second Update:
I just finished rereading Black Bird. I just can't have enough of it. I've decided to summarize the story because if I don't I will come back. I will probably come back to it anyway.
The series start with a glimpse in the past. Little Misao is crying because her friend Kyou is leaving. He tells her not to worry though because he will definitely be back. He will be back because...
Because... that's all what Misao remembers. She remembers his hand outreached for her and his words. She never remember why though. Nevertheless, it is clear that Misao and Kyou are very smitten with each other.
Flash forward to the present and Misao is now a teenager. She has earned the reputation of a weirdo primarily because she trips even though nothing is in front of her. She sometimes slowly walks or has to lean down as if something is making her do it. Unbeknownst to people, there is something that makes her do all these things.
In Black Bird's world, there are youkai or monsters that roam around. People just can't see them,, except Misao. The monsters play on her day and night- pulling her hair, riding on her back, or making her trip. Misao grew accustomed to them and had to adapt. These days though, the monsters seem to be getting more aggressive.
One fine day, Misao notices that the gates to a neighboring house is open. This used to be where Kyou lives. Misao peeps in and sees a young man. Kyou has returned.
Misao is happy but there is a bit of a problem. She can't remember anything else about Kyou, despite Kyou's representations that they were very close.
Of course, Misao grew to love Kyou, just like when she was a little girl. She has loved him even though it turns out that he is actually a Tengu (winged monster). Kyou claims that Misao knew this since she was a little girl.
Kyou wasn't the only one trying to court Misao. Other monsters, all heads of various clans, have moved forward to claim Misao as their own. You see, Misao is the Senka.
Whoever drinks the Senka's blood gets energy. If you eat her flesh, the monster will become immortal. And if you marry her, your family will prosper.
Kyou defeats all these to get Misao for himself, not as food, but as a bride. He has returned to make Misao his bride as promised. He had to leave the place for ten years because he wasn't the heir of the head of the clan. It was his brother, Shou. He had to challenge Shou to get the position for himself and in turn, get the Senka.By a twist of fate, Shou had tortured a few friends, all triplets. This turned the tide against him and made Kyou the heir. It was then that Kyou was able to claim the Senka for his own.
It would appear that Shou didn't care for the Senka like his brother but later events reveal otherwise. When he gave up the dream to become the head of the family, he had asked Misao to choose him instead. It would appear that Shou resented Kyou not just because he stole the position from him. He also resented Kyou because he has also stolen Misao from him.
Kyou and Misao has difficulties consummating their marriage though. Kyou has been informed that a previous Senka bride had her body changed after the consummation. It appears that Kyou can only make love Misao only once. Doing it beyond that would be placing Misao's life in danger.
Kyou was able to resist until a priest placed a curse on him. The curse effectively seeps Kyou's energy until he dies. The only way to survive was to finally make love to her. This was in a Chapter aptly named Night of Their Lives.
Kyou has maintained distance from Misao afterwards, until the day he killed Shou. Shou had launched a sort of revolution and ended to a showdown between the two. When Shou, in a moment of a peaceful delirium hugged Misao, Kyou slashed Shou's back and bound him magically. This made Kyou the head, not only of the Tengu clan, but of the whole demon world.
The showdown has earned Kyou of anguish and pain, as well. He had desperately tried to blot it out by making love to the Senka a second time. This was a lapse of reason that would send ripples throughout the rest of their lives.
The Senka became pregnant.
And as foretold, she will die in childbirth.
Kyou initially resisted the Senka giving birth and wanted her to abort the baby. They had no choice though as the whole demon world expected an heir. Despite this, Kyou only stopped talking about incantations and poison only when Misao decided to keep the baby after all.
On the night of the childbirth, everything was quiet despite the fact that all of Misao's protecters gathered. They have expected, they prepared themselves for the worst.
Finally, a baby cries. Sou has been born.
And Misao stops breathing.
They watch as Kyou kisses her for what seems to be an endless time. It would appear that it was a parting kiss until the midwife notices something.
Misao still has a pulse. Kyou has been transferring back all the energy Misao has given him to give her back to life. The moment Kyou will stop kissing her though would be Misao's end.
No one thought Kyou will last. No one knew if it will work. But, no one stopped him in any case.
This went on throughout the night, and the next, as well as the night after that.
The protectors supported Kyou. One even made an energy tonic that Kyou could drink in five seconds. Kyou drank it in three seconds and continued kissing Misao.
Finally, at daybreak, Misao opened her eyes.
Kyou cries.
It wasn't all peachy afterwards though because Misao found that she couldn't move her legs. Kyou, on the other hand, could not sleep. He has been traumatized and could not look at Misao sleeping. He guards over her as she sleeps. Worse, his anger towards himself gets sometimes redirected to their son, Sou.
Eventually, everything becomes happier. Misao tells Kyou that if he feels pain, he should embrace the pain. Feeling the pain means he is still alive. Misao is thankful that she is alive. She could not care less that she couldn't walk (she was eventually able to walk slowly afterwards though after intense physical therapy). Kyou learns to forgive himself and started to play with Sou.
Finally, the family goes to a beach. Misao and Kyou have earlier visited the place and wanted to return when Sou is born. Kyou fulfills Misao's dreams.
They have returned, alive and well.
That ends the story of the Senka and her lover. Their story will be recorded in an Usui edition to be passed down to the generations in case the Senka reappears and her lover has to figure out how to beat death once again.
Thus ends Black Bird.
This part I dedicate akin to a memory lane:
It is AWESOME!
Rating: 5/5
P.S. I'll probably come back and add some more to this post.
Update:
I just finished the manga and the plot is really great! Now, I don't want to write spoilers for it because I have become a fan in the process. My rating, after reading the whole series, is...
5/5.
It is worth reading! BEAUTIFUL STORY!
Second Update:
I just finished rereading Black Bird. I just can't have enough of it. I've decided to summarize the story because if I don't I will come back. I will probably come back to it anyway.
The series start with a glimpse in the past. Little Misao is crying because her friend Kyou is leaving. He tells her not to worry though because he will definitely be back. He will be back because...
Because... that's all what Misao remembers. She remembers his hand outreached for her and his words. She never remember why though. Nevertheless, it is clear that Misao and Kyou are very smitten with each other.
Flash forward to the present and Misao is now a teenager. She has earned the reputation of a weirdo primarily because she trips even though nothing is in front of her. She sometimes slowly walks or has to lean down as if something is making her do it. Unbeknownst to people, there is something that makes her do all these things.
In Black Bird's world, there are youkai or monsters that roam around. People just can't see them,, except Misao. The monsters play on her day and night- pulling her hair, riding on her back, or making her trip. Misao grew accustomed to them and had to adapt. These days though, the monsters seem to be getting more aggressive.
One fine day, Misao notices that the gates to a neighboring house is open. This used to be where Kyou lives. Misao peeps in and sees a young man. Kyou has returned.
Misao is happy but there is a bit of a problem. She can't remember anything else about Kyou, despite Kyou's representations that they were very close.
Of course, Misao grew to love Kyou, just like when she was a little girl. She has loved him even though it turns out that he is actually a Tengu (winged monster). Kyou claims that Misao knew this since she was a little girl.
Kyou wasn't the only one trying to court Misao. Other monsters, all heads of various clans, have moved forward to claim Misao as their own. You see, Misao is the Senka.
Whoever drinks the Senka's blood gets energy. If you eat her flesh, the monster will become immortal. And if you marry her, your family will prosper.
Kyou defeats all these to get Misao for himself, not as food, but as a bride. He has returned to make Misao his bride as promised. He had to leave the place for ten years because he wasn't the heir of the head of the clan. It was his brother, Shou. He had to challenge Shou to get the position for himself and in turn, get the Senka.By a twist of fate, Shou had tortured a few friends, all triplets. This turned the tide against him and made Kyou the heir. It was then that Kyou was able to claim the Senka for his own.
It would appear that Shou didn't care for the Senka like his brother but later events reveal otherwise. When he gave up the dream to become the head of the family, he had asked Misao to choose him instead. It would appear that Shou resented Kyou not just because he stole the position from him. He also resented Kyou because he has also stolen Misao from him.
Kyou and Misao has difficulties consummating their marriage though. Kyou has been informed that a previous Senka bride had her body changed after the consummation. It appears that Kyou can only make love Misao only once. Doing it beyond that would be placing Misao's life in danger.
Kyou was able to resist until a priest placed a curse on him. The curse effectively seeps Kyou's energy until he dies. The only way to survive was to finally make love to her. This was in a Chapter aptly named Night of Their Lives.
Kyou has maintained distance from Misao afterwards, until the day he killed Shou. Shou had launched a sort of revolution and ended to a showdown between the two. When Shou, in a moment of a peaceful delirium hugged Misao, Kyou slashed Shou's back and bound him magically. This made Kyou the head, not only of the Tengu clan, but of the whole demon world.
The showdown has earned Kyou of anguish and pain, as well. He had desperately tried to blot it out by making love to the Senka a second time. This was a lapse of reason that would send ripples throughout the rest of their lives.
The Senka became pregnant.
And as foretold, she will die in childbirth.
Kyou initially resisted the Senka giving birth and wanted her to abort the baby. They had no choice though as the whole demon world expected an heir. Despite this, Kyou only stopped talking about incantations and poison only when Misao decided to keep the baby after all.
On the night of the childbirth, everything was quiet despite the fact that all of Misao's protecters gathered. They have expected, they prepared themselves for the worst.
Finally, a baby cries. Sou has been born.
And Misao stops breathing.
They watch as Kyou kisses her for what seems to be an endless time. It would appear that it was a parting kiss until the midwife notices something.
Misao still has a pulse. Kyou has been transferring back all the energy Misao has given him to give her back to life. The moment Kyou will stop kissing her though would be Misao's end.
No one thought Kyou will last. No one knew if it will work. But, no one stopped him in any case.
This went on throughout the night, and the next, as well as the night after that.
The protectors supported Kyou. One even made an energy tonic that Kyou could drink in five seconds. Kyou drank it in three seconds and continued kissing Misao.
Finally, at daybreak, Misao opened her eyes.
Kyou cries.
It wasn't all peachy afterwards though because Misao found that she couldn't move her legs. Kyou, on the other hand, could not sleep. He has been traumatized and could not look at Misao sleeping. He guards over her as she sleeps. Worse, his anger towards himself gets sometimes redirected to their son, Sou.
Eventually, everything becomes happier. Misao tells Kyou that if he feels pain, he should embrace the pain. Feeling the pain means he is still alive. Misao is thankful that she is alive. She could not care less that she couldn't walk (she was eventually able to walk slowly afterwards though after intense physical therapy). Kyou learns to forgive himself and started to play with Sou.
Finally, the family goes to a beach. Misao and Kyou have earlier visited the place and wanted to return when Sou is born. Kyou fulfills Misao's dreams.
They have returned, alive and well.
That ends the story of the Senka and her lover. Their story will be recorded in an Usui edition to be passed down to the generations in case the Senka reappears and her lover has to figure out how to beat death once again.
Thus ends Black Bird.
This part I dedicate akin to a memory lane:
 |
| Remember when Misao tricked Shou into kissing her to feed him the poison in her mouth? |
 |
| He didn't see that one coming. |
 |
| That is Kyou looking like he was about to cry when Misao finally emerged from the buried storehouse. |
 |
| Kyou hugging Misao with a blanket separating them because Misao is just covered with poison all over. |
 |
| This was the night of their lives. A Tengu got the Senka. |
 |
| Misao was posed to die right after childbirth. |
 |
| Tarou's special nourishing tonic! |
 |
| Misao is alive! |
 |
| Misao finally opens her eyes after three days. |
 |
| The final scene. |
 |
| All these because of a promise. :) |
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