There was a thin border between good and bad, it was easy to be fooled. One moment you were thinking, that the beautiful rose you were adoring with your eyes and holding in your hands was pretty and innocent, so pretty that you did not felt it's sharp dorns cutting in your soft skin, losing a few small drops of warm and red blood. Hurt you would look at your hands and realize, that the beautiful rose had harm you. If you had paid a more intense look at the beautiful rose you had seen it's true face. With this knowledge you had just adored it from far away, but now it was too late.

Most people fell for beautiful things and this was their mistake.

Kyoto, Empire of Japan. - 1702 (Edo-Era)

It had been December fourth in the year 1702 when Kim Seok Jin had opened his eyes to the world. He had been born as the youngest son of Kim Jin Kwon and his wife Lady Kim Kari. Even though he was just a small boy he had been the only left hope of his family after his older brother had been diagnosed with an illness that wouldn't allow him to get older than 20 years. 

Little did Seok Jin (basically called Jin) know that his brother was not really ill but cursed, because of his father who had willed in to pact with a death god (shinigami). Incase to become the first Korean Samurai he had promised to sacrafice his first born child. As soon as Jin Hyuk should reach twenty years he would die and be a symbol for the respect that human-being show the dark might. 
In the night of the ninth Feburary in 1712 Kim Jin Kwon refused to sacrafice his son and broke the pact with the death god. The death god who got angry at the man said that he is going to kill his whole family if he is once again going to refuse. Jin Kwon who got scared finally decided to give Jin Hyuk away, however the death god said that he wishes another present since Jin Kwon had played with his pride while refusing. He also wanted Seok Jin. 

Not wanting to lose more of his children he willed in. As malicious as the Shinigami had been he hadn't only killed the boys but had killed Kim Jin Kwon's entire family. 

Jin Kwon and his wife, Kari, had only been able to reach the after life. Every soul that died by the hand of a Shinigami either become a death god or get a butterfly or bird. While Jin Kwon and Kari got butterflies their children were destinied to become death god's. 

Kyoto, Japan. - 1997 (Heisei - Era)

It had been the fourth of Decembre in the year 1997 when Jang Ara had opened her eyes to the world. She had been the only daughter of a loving couple, but unfortuantely her mother had died during the delivery and so Jang Hyuk had to raise his daughter all by himself. He had been the son of a Korean soldier and a Japanese nurse who had met each other during the war. 

Twenty-two years later he had met the love of his life a smart and beautiful girl named Nara, but she had been blind. Still he had loved her unconditonally. Life didn't want them to be together for eternity so god part them, but still something remained, his daughter. 

Ara had grow up in Tokyo but still had visited her grandparents who were living in Kyoto during her vacations together with her father. She always had loved listening to her grandmother's fairytales about the Tengus and Kitsunes or about the Hebi and the Inugami or how she would have been able to differiniate between Nekomata and Bakeneko. 

Characters 


Jang Ara 

Born on 4th of December 1997 in Okinawa, Japan. 
She is 17 years old and goes to an only girl high school in Tokyo.

She loves furry animal and has a cat called Crimson.
Her hobbies are; reading historical books about old Japanese Yokai and being lazy and doing nothing. 

Kim Seok Jin 

Born on 4th of December 1702 in Kyoto during the Edo-Era in the Empire of Japan.
He is 312 years old and prefers it to be called only Jin. 
He is a Shinigami and with this a guardian and servant of the four grand Yokai clan.
He is under the duty of the Tengu and protects them. 
 

He is very interested in the world of human-being and therefore spends most of his time there.
His hobbies are; reading, drawing and taking long naps during the day. 
Despite being curious and adventerous he has a strong sense of loyalty
and protects people he loves as if his life would depend on them. 

Kim Jin Hyuk

Born on ninth of Febuaray 1696 in Kyoto during the Edo-Era in the Epire of Japan.
He is a  319 years old Shinigami and under the duty of the Inugami and protects them.
He is Jin's older brother. 

He spends most of his time with practicing and training.
His hobbies are; practicing his Kido skills and taking long walks in the forest.
Even though he is loyal towards the Yokai  he believes that each clan is treating the souls 
in a bad way, since they live in slums while the grand four clan live a life in luxury.

The grand four Yokai clan

1. Kitsune ~ Silver foxes

Oh Se Hun

He is the Lord of the Kitsune and the leader of the first Shinigami-Force 
which are the protectors of Yokai Lords. His protectors easily can be named 
by the grey colored Haori they were on top of their black Hakama. 

His force is the first recourt called 'L'. 

2. Inugami ~ Dog faced human.

Park Ji Min

He is the Lord of the Inugami and the leader of the second Shinigami-Force. 
His protectors can be identified by the red colored Haori they were on top of their black Hakama. 
He is the youngest Lord among the grand four. After the sudden death of his older brother he 
had to take over the clan. 

His force is called 'Bangtan'.

3. Tengu ~ Human faced gigantic raven.

Lee Jong Hyun

He is Lord of Tengu and the leader of third Shinigami-Force.
Tengus are well-known for being friendly but they also can get quite
blunt if they get betrayed by any of the other clans. His protectors are the most famous among 
the clans and can be identified by their blue Haori they wear over their black Hakama. 

He is the oldest and strongest Lord. 

His force is named 'Aoi', after the Japanese term for blue.

4. Bakeneko ~ Cat shaped human being. 

Kim Tae Hyung

He is the Lord of the Bakeneko which is the fourth and last clan. 
His Shinigami-Force can be named by the purple colored Haoris
they wear over the classical black Hakama.

He is born as the only son in a clan which is usually lead by women. 
Being the only child of his mother he has to take over the clan and gets 
protect by female Shinigami. Bakeneko are well-known for their female 
warriors. 

His protectors are called 'Shoujo', which means girl in Japanese.

I just wanted to mention that I am not Japanese and neither do have a professional knowledge about ancient Japanese history or about Yokai and other mystical beings of Japanese mythology. I only write about things I have researched, but still I can not guarntee them to be real. 

This story might be based on Yokai and Shinigami but the way they are described and are divded is my own idea since there is actually no rules for the use of them. 

This story was inspired by the Japanese manga 'Black Bird', so it could be that there are some similarities. 

I hope you will enjoy this journey and wish you a lot of fun. 

Nil ~ PandasRicecake. 

A big thank you to First Snow Graphic Shop's talented designer Hiirah who created this beautiful poster. 
Make sure to check them out: 

http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/640249/first-snow-re-temporarily-close-graphics-poster-postershop-graphicshop