I found this fair-condition trade paperback at the Book Cellar, and as it's one of the series volumes that I didn't already have, I nabbed it. I enjoyed the anime adaptation, and have been enjoying the manga as well, though the way it swings from madcap humor to horrifying, diabolical cruelty is sometimes very disturbing. [It does help to start at the beginning, with Volume One.]

This volume is a very intense one, containing the conclusion of the Kyoto arc and a huge showdown between the very-evil-indeed Muraki and his obsession, Tsuzuki. There are some lovely scenes with Oriya, a mysterious man who seems to be Muraki's only friend - and perhaps the only person who's seen him in a vulnerable state (and lived); I found Oriya not only attractive (even by the standards of this series full of beautiful men) but fascinating, from his odd loyalty to Muraki to his impressive sword-skills to his living-out-of-time aspect. Here, he's tasked by Muraki to delay Hisoka, Tatsumi, and Watari as they try to rescue Tsuzuki - and while he does so, he also seems reluctant to delay them too long, and sympathetic to Hisoka's friendship for Tsuzuki. A pity Oriya doesn't have a bigger part in the rest of the series!

Anyway: We find out just what Muraki's purpose is - while he still seems to adore Tsuzuki in a very possessive and creepy way, he wants to use his special regenerative powers to help him resurrect his dead half-brother, whose head he's been keeping on life-support for years. [Weird guy, Muraki.] His reason for resurrecting his brother is also weird, but I'll leave that for the reader!

Tsuzuki himself is in the middle of one of his worst existential-angst periods, convinced that he only brings doom to those he cares for and eager to die permanently, especially if he can take Muraki out too. He invokes Touda, one of his powerful shiki, to use his flames to consume them both...

There are some really lovely scenes here, whether in the quiet moments between Oriya and Muraki, the regretful memories of Tatsumi (who resigned as Tsuzuki's partner long ago), the intense master/servant dynamic between Tsuzuki and Touda, or in Hisoka's emotional and self-sacrificing act to either save Tsuzuki or die with him.

Since the series continues from here, I hope it's not a spoiler to say that they survive; Tatsumi has some awesome powers, it seems. And as is the way of this series, all that lush, emotional clinging and holding and gazing-into-each-others'-eyes is replaced by some very broad humor regarding all of Tsuzuki's co-workers bouncing in to see him in recovery, teasing him and squabbling. But it's all very sweet (and funny), and even though we learn that (surprise!) Muraki, too, escaped Touda's flames, at least our heroes are all together again. [But why can't Oriya have his own series? Sigh.]

There's an entertaining TV Tropes page on the series, btw.

I plan to donate this book to the ongoing charity-sale shelves inside Hannaford's. [They sell donated books for low prices, with the proceeds going to various local charities.] Hope the buyer enjoys the book!

*** Released as part of the 2014 D for December release challenge. ***

*** Released as part of the 2014 What's In A Name release challenge, for the embedded "Dan" in the title. ***