Angel Sanctuary
by YUKI
Kaori
Japanese Name: Tenshi Kinryouku
Published in Hana to Yume Comics
Summary from Puff Magazine
The Book of the Material World
(contained in Angel Sanctuary vols.1-3 and half of
4)
God is asleep and heaven has fallen into factionalism,
power struggles and dictatorship. The great angel Alexiel, in disgust at
the evil deeds of her fellow angels, allied with the demon world and led
a revolt against the current rulers of Heaven. She was defeated, her body
imprisoned in crystal and her soul condemned to a never-ending series of
incarnations. In each life she dies violently.
In the present age she has been reincarnated
as Mudo_ Setsuna, an average high school boy- average except that he is
in love with his sister Sara and tormented by this forbidden love. Rejected
long ago by his mother, he leads an ordinary life with his friend and senpai
Kira Sakuya.
But many people are looking for Alexiel's new
form. The demon Kurai and her cousin Arakune have stolen Alexiel's body
and are now trying to awaken her spirit within Setsuna. And from the heavenly
host comes Roshiel, Alexiel's twin brother who fought against her and was
sealed into the earth by her during their last battle. Roshiel has been
freed at the cost of many lives and is now wreaking havoc around Setsuna,
because Roshiel too has a strange relationship with his sister.
With Setsuna as focus, an ever widening whirlpool
of disasters spreads out involving him, Sara, and Kira Senpai.
The Book of Hades
Adam Cadamon appears to Setsuna and tells him
that he is to save the world from the destruction which threatens it, and
that to do so Setsuna must release Adam Cadamon from his bondage. Setsuna
insists on first finding Sara's spirit which
is in the next world. Adam Cadamon stops time for the period of a week
but warns him that he must be back within that period. Setsuna's body takes
on the appearance of death but his spirit descends to Hades-- only to be
told by the Lord of that world, Enrao, that Sara's spirit has been taken
away by Uriel, the angel guardian of Hell Gate, who intends to sacrifice
her to the World Tree Yggdrasil. Setsuna and his spirit guide Kato set
out for Yggdrasil.
Meanwhile Roshiel has returned to Heaven to take
up his rightful position, a rebellion begins against Sebothtarte's dictatorship,
and the angels of the Great Council are disturbed to learn that Adam Cadamon
still exists and is influencing what happens on earth.
The Book of Heaven
Setsuna finds that Sara's spirit has been taken
to Heaven by Zaphikel, the leader of the thrones (a class of angels). At
great cost Setsuna manages to return to the real world but he has lost
the thread that binds him to his body and his body has died. But by means
of Kira's desperate resolve, Setsuna revives in Alexiel's body which has
been imprisoned in the Angel Crystal. In heaven the Four Great Angels Michael,
Raphael and the rest begin to move, while in Hades 'the Mad Hatter' comes
as messenger from the Demon King Lucifer to tell Kurai that she is to be
Lucifer's bride. The next stage happens in the real world, in Tokyo, as
events gradually begin to head towards a denouement.
Main Characters
Alexiel-
The bright angel of heaven who led an unsuccessful
revolt against the corruption of her fellow angels. She and Roshiel were
created as twins by God, but (the story is) Roshiel received all of God's
love and attention and Alexiel was discriminated against, being forbidden
even to live in the House of Creation. From this she conceived a hostility
towards God and angels and beagn the war against heaven. Well, that's one
story. Or could it be that she broke the angel's taboo and fell in love
with God himself?
Roshiel- Her twin brother, a narcissistic
beauty who can never understand why his sister doesn't respect him. Released
from his captivity by Katan and his video game 'Angel Sanctuary' which
swallows the souls of those who play it and gives
their energy to Roshiel, he's determined to change her opinion of him and
doesn't care who gets hurt in the process.
Mudo_ Setsuna- Alexiel's present
incarnation, a rough and ready high school boy who somehow loses consciousness
at the sight of blood. Has inherited Alexiel's astral powers.
Mudo_ Sara- His younger sister,
the usual pure-hearted innocent dweeby heroine. Loves her brother. SPOILER
Dies trying to protect him and her spirit then wanders through the other
world.
Kira Sakuya- Setsuna's senpai ('big brother',
sort of) from junior high onwards. Advises, consoles and occasionally rescues
Setsuna. Can't be killed. SPOILER. His soul is that of Alexiel's sword
that accompanies her through her reincarnations. His body is that of a
young boy who died in an accident, the real Kira Sakuya, who allows the
sword to use his body if in return the sword can arrange for Kira's father
not to grieve when he dies.
Kurai- 14th child of the lord of Hell, was absent
when her family was massacred by the hosts of Heaven. Saved from death
by Alexiel, she has been devoted to her ever since. A legitimate dragon
master- the 'dragons' in question being three human-appearing sisters who
can be made to tell the future. Looks like a boy but isn't.
Arakune- Kurai's cousin. A disgrace to hell because
of his okama ways, was also away when the royal family was wiped out. Terribly
feminine, looks like a girl but isn't.
Katan- formerly one of the lowest class of angels
(the worker angels- angel peons?) he was given a body by Roshiel. Knows
how dangerous Roshiel is but follows him anyway.
The ranks of heavenly powers:
God the Creator (currently in an eternal sleep
to conserve his energy)
*
Adam Cadamon
*
Organic Angel Alexiel
Inorganic angel Roshiel (the meaning of 'organic'
and 'inorganic' has yet to be revealed)
*
(First grade of angels)
Seraphim- leader, Metatron
Cherubim- leader, formerly Jibrille, now Doviel
Thrones- leader, Zaphikel
*
(Second grade of angels)
Dominions
Virtues- leader, Raphael
Powers- leader, Michael
*
(Third grade of angels)
Principalities
Archangels
Angels
*
spirit angels
Adam Cadamon- legendary power, the holy Seraphita.
The creator's greatest work, a dazzling six-winged angel who is both male
and female, dark and light, 'the first and last holy one.' Is presently
imprisoned in heaven in Etemenanki, the building of creation from which
he appeals to Setsuna for help, calling him 'my dearest son.'
Metatron- The Great Seraphim. Originally the
greatest power of the upper heavens, he now looks like a small toddler
clutching his teddy bear.
Sebothtarte (Katakana: Sebofutaruta)- the prime
minister. Has taken all real power from Metatron and instituted a dictatorship,
ruling heaven through fear. Always appears veiled.
Jibrille- originally leader of the cherubim and
one of the four great angels of the elements, the angel of water. Now has
fallen into an automaton-like state. True name- Gabriel.
Doviel- Jibrille's substitute as head of the cherubim.
Threatened by Sebothtarte, he tried to prevent Roshiel's awakening. Not
a very authoritative type of angel.
Zaphikel- leader of the thrones (third class
of first grade angels), always dresses as a priest. The blind angel who
stops Setsuna from killing himself. Lost his sight the one time that he
had a vision of Adam Cadamon. Always smiling but occasionally shows a fierce
side. Conducts Sara's spirit out of Hades and hides her in Heaven.
Rajiel- Zaphikel's underling, whom Zaphikel picked
up when Rajiel was in Heavenly Officers' Training School. Possesses special
powers and looks after his master's needs.
Raphael- leader of the virtues. The angel of
wind, also called the angel of healing, also called (by Michael) 'the star
of sex' because of his fondness for women.
Michael- The angel of fire. Fond of fights and
destruction, a very aggressive angel. Don't mention his height or his older
brother to him. He and Raphael make a strong partnership.
Kato- mysterious figure with a dark past. SPOILER
The high school drug dealer whom Setsuna killed in Book 2 when the spirit
of Alexiel manifested in him. When Setsuna goes to Hades to find Sara's
spirit, Kato is assigned to him as his guardian spirit. This is Kato's
last chance to qualify for a chance to get out of Hades. Very popular with
the Japanese readership, Kato is a Japanese antihero who (for once) refuses
to 'ganbaru' (hang in, do his best, keep a stiff upper lip, keep on trying)
because he thinks it a waste of time to even try.
Mad Hatter- Lucifer's agent, appears to Kurai
and tells her she must become the bride of the Demon. Seems dumb but is
in fact one of Seven Lords of Hell.
Kirie- candidate for the heavenly intelligentsia.
Roshiel makes her his assistant to replace Katan.
Uriel- the angel of penitence, angel of the dead.
Guardian of Hell Gate that leads to the land of the dead. One of the four
great angels. Is the one who pronounced the curse that Alexiel will die
violently in each of her incarnations because Alexiel spurned his love.
Other works
Angel Sanctuary
Count Cain Series