Stigma (Senkou)

by Harumi FUKUSHI
Published by Akita Shoten
Serialized in Bonita Special
3 volumes complete
Available in Chinese from Changer
 
 
The author wrote in the forward:  I wanted to write about the demonic nature of angels and the angelics nature of devils.

Amist howling wind and swirling snow, two brothers tried to escaped from their pursuers and the malevolent destiny.  From the former they succeeded, at least for the time being, finding comfort and love in the villa of Madam Lily and her warm-hearted family.  But they could never escape from the latter.  Ruli, the dark haired younger brother, has two secrets that even he did not fully understand.  He was a true hermaphordite, possessing not only both set of sexual organs, but also the hermones of both sex.  But even more mysterious are the stigmata that appeared on his hands.  At times like these they gave him incredible powers of destruction. Only his older brother Kiri could control his powers and heal the stigmata.  Ruli thought himself cursed, a demon and a creature of evil.  But his brother, and his pursuers know better.  For Ruli was truly an angel, whose power cleansed away sins.  Kiri was the demon, sent by the lord of hell to seal away Ruli's power.  Through the centuries Ruli and Kiri were always bound together, cherishing their bond, though Ruli never knew the reasons.  But now as a huge corporation schemed to use Ruli's to destroy the world and create a new world under their control, only Ruli and Kiri's love could save the world.


This could be read as a side-story to Harumi FUKUSHI's Angel War, but Angel Wars is not really necessary for understanding.  Though the author's love for Christian myth is evident, her interpretation of Passion of Christ is shaky, if not downright heretical.  But if you disregard the religious elements, this is basicly a grand angst feast in the true shoujo style, with a twist of incest and shonen ai added to give it spice.  If this is the first time you have encountered Fukushi sensei you may find her angular visual style slight jarring, but she is a very consistent artist, and your eyes will adjust quickly.