Darker Than Black

A new and deadly breed of covert agent walks the streets. Known as Contractors, these assassins and spies wield bizarre supernatural powers to carry out the dirty work of others. They thrive in the underworld, between rumor and reality, their loyalties always in question. One among these operatives is more mysterious than the rest -- The masked killer BK201, the Black Reaper. His true identity and intentions remain unknown, but as his path weaves through the shadows and alleys of Tokyo, blood is spilled on both sides of the law. It's a new age of confusion, and the rules of engagement have changed.

Every Contractor has a job to do, and it seems Hei's latest task is to fake a smile. He is doing his best to keep his companion, Chiaki, at ease, and she's on edge for good reason. The woman is a fugitive in search of freedom, with government secrets tucked away to be cashed in for some rainy day. Hunted from every dark corner, by Contractor and cop alike, Hei's cold calculation might keep her safe for now. But nobody can run forever in a world where deception begets deception.

The Contractors weren't the only product of the appearance of Hell's Gate -- Others were changed, as well. And Tahara is the only human to have ever survived a journey into the void. A decade later, he is in isolation within his own skin, alone in his research of the Gate even in the company of his estranged daughter, Mai. Hei is willing to chaperone the girl, but a suffering and lonely child is likely to act out. Mai isn't playing with matches, though fires rage in the city none the less, some perhaps bright enough to hide the light from the newest star in the sky.

A new star burns to life in the false skies over Tokyo, and it can only mean one thing -- A fresh threat is on the move. This monster wields the powers of a Contractor, but her heart is something far worse than remorseless... And Mai is unaware of her dangerous state. She staggers dazed through the streets and deadly fire lights her path. The roots of her new skills bloom from the sins of her father, and Tahara's guilty confession to Hei offers no absolution -- Only cleansing flame will serve to wash away his mistakes. A song glides from blameless lips. Another contract is complete.

There's chaos -- And then there's Havoc, a Contractor whose body count reached the artificial stars above before she suffered a strange fall from grace. She's suddenly back on the scene, and it seems every agency with an interest in the Gate wants to bring her in. But red tape has a way of slowing things down, even in the double-dealing world of secret government operatives. Hei has the skills to cut through the diplomatic mire. The cops may not know the identity of the masked rogue who seeks their prize, but Havoc knows his name. The Black Reaper has a question. It likely should not remain unanswered.

The infamous Havoc is out of exile, but years have passed since she was tasked with the dirty work of others. Her powers have vanished and her memory is peppered with dark corners. The voids in her recollections do not sit well with Hei, but Havoc may still be able to help him solve the riddle of his vanished sister. The two enigmas with the mysterious bond will travel to the strangest place to seek a solution... Hell's Gate. Trouble usually follows just behind the Black Reaper. On this night, it approaches from all sides. Vengeance dons his mask.

Private detective Gai Kurasawa usually makes his living stalking the dregs of society. When a beautiful widow slinks through his door, it might signal a welcome change of pace -- But a simple lost pet investigation quickly turns into a tangle of death and suspicion. Still, a sultry woman's charms hold much sway, and Kurasawa will do what he must to solve the case. The coincidences which mix with the clues are myriad, and it is likely not by chance that Hei happens to be around. The private-eye and the Contractor are following parallel trails of evidence, but only one can see the danger waiting just ahead.

Kurasawa is in over his head, the private-eye oblivious to the deadly game of cat and mouse playing out around him in the night. What began as a search for a lost pet has turned into an investigation of a freshly discovered corpse. The detective stumbles upon a suspect, but the crimes committed by the man are far more incredible than those of which he is accused. Thanks to the actions of a jealous queen, violence and the impossible surround a simple gumshoe that is now a player in a contest between pawns.

The thugs of the Hong Kong mafia have been dropping like flies, and the deaths all seem to be the work of one Contractor. Even with her informants turning up dead, Kirihara might get to the bottom of the gangland murders sooner than she thinks. All dolled up, she mingles with the highest ranks of the local mob, courtesy of a childhood friendship with the boss's daughter, Alice. Laughter flows like wine as the old classmates reconnect, leading Alice to share a secret: She knows the identity of the wanted Contractor, as do the corpses gathering at Kimihara's feet.

Chunks of flesh, both innocent and guilty, explode as the freaks of Hell's Gate wage supernatural war high above the city. Blood and electricity jump through the air, Kirihara's two latest targets now aiming for each other. Just as escape from Alice looks likely, one trap becomes another -- And Kirihara and Saito enter a nightmare. The twisted mafia princess has a new set of worries. The one tapped to protect Alice now becomes her undoing, and there is no crutch that can support her falling body. All sides of the law aim their weapons at one another, but there will be no shooting stars this evening.

Urban legends and rumors thrive around Hell's Gate, but some things are fact: People have been known to go mad at the mouth of the supernatural void. And the Black Reaper's new mission will allow him to witness this truth first-hand. The Contractor is to infiltrate PANDORA and recover the Meteor Shard, a much-desired artifact from within the Gate that might hold the answers to questions that haven't even been asked. Hei goes undercover, and when he's not hiding in plain sight behind a broom and a janitor's uniform, he is subjected to risky research -- And suspicion. It seems there's been a murder.

The Gate once more offers new riddles to those who investigate its power, and the fresh mysteries lead Hei to even more questions. Clues are popping up in the chaos surrounding Corinna's death, and the signs point to Contractor involvement. Meena suspects a hidden monster, but how can she know for sure when the admitted killer at hand shows glimmers of kindness? But no one knows a murderer like another murderer, so it doesn't take Hei long to prove her theory. He lashes out at one so much like himself, the battle spilling into the streets within Hell's Gate -- And at least one urban legend proves to be true.

Yin may be used to feeling alone, but the somber Doll has no idea that so many are seeking her company after an encounter with a rival faction leaves her wandering the streets. Faces from her past and present comb the city, but not all who search for Yin are looking to keep her safe. Alliances are always shaky at best in the world of Contractors, and Huang can't have the medium falling into enemy hands. When a familiar voice calls out to Yin, offering forth a name not heard for many moons, she will have a choice to make. The wrong decision could lead to her death.

The wreckage of a fallen airplane smolders on the side of a mountain in memory, and a little girl is left alone with her pain. A would-be savior offers a hand in the here and now, a chance for Yin to abandon the life of espionage and murder, and return to her home. But there can be no peace for Yin. She carries the burdens of personal tragedy heavy upon her back, and atonement could very well last forever. There is only one face which carries any hope, a visage usually hidden behind a killer's mask. On this night, a light shines to offer Yin calm, if only for a moment.

A wave of terrorism is washing over Tokyo. Supposedly secure government buildings are being bombed in quick succession. With so many secret agencies vying for control of the mysteries of Hell's Gate, blame might be tough to assign -- though the reappearance of a Contractor named Amber might serve to narrow the list of usual suspects considerably. Operatives on both side of the law are hunting her down. Some want justice, some want revenge. Amber wants chaos in the streets. If her past is any indicator, she'll get exactly what she desires. All signs point to something big.

Tokyo is locked down, and the whole world is on alert. Omens are appearing from the false stars on down, and the last time these signs all swirled in the same breath, bad things happened in South America. Chaos follows Amber as well, and the members of Evening Primrose will stop at nothing to bring their leader's plans to fruition. The Black Reaper knows the destruction that can be unleashed if Amber isn't stopped -- and he's willing to risk the wrath of his own team to thwart her. When the two powerful Contractors finally meet face to face, she offers to share a secret. It may not be enough to save her life.

Kirihara is obsessed with the drama of betrayal and revenge playing out on the streets she is supposed to protect, but her questions remain unanswered. BK201 and Amber. Are they friends or foes? Hei doesn't have a lot of people he can call confidant, but low level gangster Sakurai Kenji will do for now. The two men are spending a little time together after a chance meeting. The friendship is going to be complicated, though. Kenji is charged by his boss to care for a black-market Doll, and he quickly develops feelings for the passive girl -- the same Doll Hei's team is trying to find.

The Black Reaper's team is hunting for a missing black-market Doll -- and the prize appears on his doorstep in the care of his new friend, Kenji. The low-level mafioso has developed sympathetic feelings for the stoic girl, and he's made the dangerous decision to leave the Family. He asks Hei to help, but risking the wrath of warring mobsters and his own syndicate to help a "friend" might not be worth the trouble. The Contractor just might have bigger problems to deal with. While Hei's out on the town in his civilian disguise, Kirihara can't help but feel there's something very familiar about him.

The appearance of the Contractors changed everything. Even faith was shaken when the impossible sprung into existence. BK201 has a new mission: Infiltrate a religious cult devoted to worshipping Hell's Gate and assassinate its prophet. The kill will be tough to pull off. The leader of the sect is as mysterious as the object of her congregation's reverence, appearing only once a year -- and it is suspected that she has supernatural abilities. Hei will have a contact inside the sect, a Contractor called Shihoko. She isn't unfamiliar to the members of the Black Reaper's cell. For one team member, she's been a source of great pain.

After the botched attempt on Alma's life, Black Reaper's team must regroup and try again -- and they've added a new name to the kill list. Shihoko must go away for good. Should she survive, Huang will pay with his life. Those in the secret business of murder and intrigue know there's no room for emotion, but ties from the past are strong. Huang and Shihoko share a complicated history, and neither can be sure how it will end. Alma knows her own final chapter is being written, and it begins with words of confession to Hei. She's gone too far; she has strayed from the lofty ideals of her past -- and she will have to atone for her sins.

Kirihara is tireless in her pursuit of Evening Primrose, and her hard work seems to be paying off - but for every step forward, there are two steps back into chaos. The Contractor underground is waging war, and the violence is escalating. A valuable Gate researcher has been abducted. The American Embassy is under attack. As one of her closest allies abandons the good fight to join the enemy, Kirihara will have to reach into her reserve of determination to keep pushing for justice - but she may find it hard to dig deep with her hands cuffed behind her back.