The story centers around Kamui Shirou who returns to Tokyo after 6 years. He is the one with two destinies, to become a Dragon of Heaven and save humankind or become a Dragon of Earth, to destroy mankind so that the Earth rejuvinate. However, Kamui, when we first get to know him, is arrogant and cold and doesn't really care the fate of the Earth but that doesn't matter. It is his destiny to choose and decide the fate of mankind. As each day passes on new DoH and DoE, each very different from the other and tied together by fate. They all await for the promised day where they have their final battle to decide the fate of the world. Nobody knows what will happen to each dragon except for those who can see the future. This is why, "Their Destiny Was Foreordained." The future is set or so it seems.
Spoilers ahead
Characters
Main Characters
- Shirou Kamui: The unwilling key to the future of Earth, Kamui is an introverted, mysterious high school boy who disappeared 6 years earlier. At the urging of his mother, Kamui returns to Tokyo where his future awaits him. He is destined to decide whether Tokyo and Earth survive, having the choice to lead either the Dragons of Heaven or the Dragons of Earth. All he cares about doing at the beginning of the series is retriving the Shinken sword and will let no one stop him.For the first half of the series, His personality is that he is seemingly uncaring, cynical and selfish.However, Kamui wishes only to protect the ones he cares for. By the end of the series after a great lose, he becomes more caring towards others.
- Monou Fuuma: Kamui's childhood friend, Fuuma promised to protect him when he returned. Unfortunately for both, Fuuma is later convinced, whether true or not, that he is Kamui's companion star; to balance the scales when Kamui finally decides which Dragon to side with, Fuuma is to become the other Dragon. Ironically, Fuuma is one of the few people that Kamui actually cares for. A good brother to his younger sister Kotori, Fuuma is the present caretaker of the Togakushi Shrine, which his father was until his recent death.
- Monou Kotori: Younger sister of Fuuma, Kotori is a beautiful, albeit sickly, teenage girl who may have the ability to see the future in her dreams. The return of Kamui excites her, as they were childhood friends and Kamui made the gallant promise that he would always protect her when he returned. While she has actively little to do with the future of Earth, she seems to be the key between Kamui and Fuuma, the deciding factors in the future of Tokyo and Earth. One thing is constant in all visions of the future: Kotori is destined to die.
The Dragons of Heaven: The seven chosen to protect Tokyo and Earth, they are drawn from all walks of life to one place: the basement of the Diet Building. Their mission is to counter the Dragons of Earth, who seem bent on destroying Tokyo and Earth.
- Hinoto: The Seer of the Dragons of Heaven, she is blind and mute and thus, communicates telepathically. Even though she has the appearance of a freakish young girl, she is actually quite old. A tool of the Diet, she interprets her precognitive dreams for them. With the unique ability to enter the dreams of others, she makes her initial plea to Kamui to join the Dragons of Heaven through his own dream. While Hinoto and her younger sister, Kanoe - Seer of the Dragons of Earth, may be perceived as the leaders of their respective groups, each are merely at the mercy of the destiny that they foresee through the dreams; they control nothing and are forced to watch the future unfold before them, awaiting the decision of Kamui.
- Sumeragi Subaru: The 13th leader of the Sumeragi Clan, Subaru is a young man in his early twenties and is a powerful priest magician. A recurring character from TOKYO BABYLON (in where he was one of the main characters but earlier in his teens), Subaru is only in X for a short time, finally tying up his vendetta against one-time friend, Sakurazuka Seishirou (a Dragon of Earth and another character from TOKYO BABYLON). Perhaps the most confusing plotline of X, because the history between Subaru and Seishirou from TOKYO BABYLON is a requirement for better understanding the interaction of these characters during the series. His power is that he practices the onmyouji technicues of his clan
- Arisugawa Sorata: A brash, cocky teenager from Osaka, Sorata was raised with the knowledge that he was one of the "Seven Stars" by his grandfather, also a Seer. The knowledge that he was one of the chosen and is destined to die for the woman he loves is a heavy burden for a teenager. However, he carries it well. Wielding the power of lightning, Sorata accepts his role as a Dragon of Heaven with an aplomb that matches his power.
- Kishuu Arashi: While choosing to dress in a high school girl's uniform, she certainly isn't a run-of-the-mill teenager. In actuality, Arashi is the Protector of the Ise Shrine and is also a Dragon of Heaven. Outwardly cold to others, her heart is actually kind and gentle. Because she takes her responsibility as a Dragon of Heaven so seriously, she seems cold and sometimes downright rude. As Protector of the Ise Shrine, Arashi carries the power of the shrine as well: an ancient and mystical katana blade that is stored within her left hand until truly needed.
- Aoki Seiichirou: A typical Japanese salaryman, Seiichirou exudes a sensitive and caring attitude towards others. His reasons for becoming a Dragon of Heaven reflect his unselfish nature: to protect his wife, child and all inhabitants of Tokyo from the destruction that the Dragons of Earth threaten to bring. His power is the control of wind. He strikes up an unlikely friendship with Karen in the series and watches over the young Yuzuhira like a father.
- Kasumi Karen: Perhaps the most puzzling of the group, Karen dons nothing but lingerie and an overcoat. She is a soapland attendant, where men go to take sponge baths, assisted by scantily-clad women like Karen. Her overall demeanor is cynical and passive but she loves present day Tokyo. To defend it, Karen has chosen to become a Dragon of Heaven, although in the past she has stated that she doesn't really care what happens to the world. Karen has the power of fire.
- Nekoi Yuzuriha: Youngest of the group, Yuzuriha is a 14-year-old girl from a region where wolves are mystical beings that serve the members of the Mitsumine Shrine. Because of her age, the other Dragons of Heaven are reluctant to take her along anywhere, least of all a combat situation. She depends on Inuki, a phantom wolf that comes at her call, for her powers. According to her, only those connected with the fate of Earth have the ability to see Inuki.
Dragons of Earth: The seven chosen to assist in the rebirth of Earth, they are not as evil as the movie suggests. They wish not for the destruction of Earth, but of humanity. Humanity, which abuses, drains and neglects the Earth, is seen as the dangerous entity to the Dragons of Earth. Humanity mustbe destroyed in order for the Earth to be reborn in its true, pure form.
- Kanoe: the younger sister of Hinoto and the Seer for the Dragons of Earth, her abilities are more limited than that of Hinoto. She cannot enter dreams at will but can only see the same visions that Hinoto does, although her interpretations may be different; thus, she sees the vision of Kamui clashing with Fuuma, who she believes to be Kamui's companion star. It is Kanoe that convinces Fuuma that it is his destiny to fight Kamui for the fate of the Earth.
- Sakurazuka Seishirou: Seishirou is from Tokyo Babylon. He is an onmyouji that feeds souls to this Sakura tree. He enjoys killing people and is one of the most powerful DoEs out there. When Seishirou first met Subaru, he made a deal with him. Seishirou would spend one year with Subaru and if he felt anything towards him, then he would not kill Subaru. In the end, he felt "nothing" and tried to kill Subaru. In Subaru's place, he killed Hokuto (Subaru's twin sis) instead. Now, he believes Subaru wishes to kill him
- Nataku: A genetically created, androgynous being, Nataku is an emotionless "human," perfectly suited to be a Dragon of Earth and oversee the destruction of humanity. Actually an abortive attempt to recreate a deceased young girl, Nataku serves at the behest of Kanoe and is actually based on a Chinese god of the same name. Nataku's power is control over the ceremonial cloth it wears.
- Kigai Yuuto: Devious and sly, Yuuto seems almost the natural leader of the Dragons of Earth. He can seem caring at times (often showing his affection for Satsuki), while being a cold-hearted killer at other times. Yuuto possesses psychic attack powers, but he chooses to use two hand-thrown spikes connected with a rope. The one comical aspect about this character is his unique style of clothing, often being called a pimp.
- Yatohji Satsuki: Calling her a self-described computer expert is an understatement. Having created the supercomputer BEAST, Satsuki becomes a part of the it and can access any computer anywhere, even to the point of physically controlling cables and hardware. An apathetic and asocial girl, Satsuki has a sincere love for BEAST, which according to her, is reciprocated by the computer.
- Kakyou Mizuki:Kakyou is a dreamgazer and is a far better dreamgazer than Hinoto. He already knows what will happen in the end but knows that he will only die on the promised day. This is his wish so that he can be reunited with his love, Hokuto. (yep...that's Subaru's sis...man, do things really come together. ^^) Kakyou seems to the nicest of the DoE (probably tied with Kusanagi) and lives on Kotori's words that the future has yet to be determined.
- Shiyu Kusanagi: Kusanagi is part of the Japanese Defence Forces. He is one of the nicest DoE of them all. His powers seem to be purely physical as in speed and such, with the exception of the fact that he can feel the pain of a plant when it dies. He has a very close bond with Yuzuriha but I don't think he love-loves her.
Review:****(Four Stars)
Rating:This is one of those series that is unique, dramatic, intense, and depressing. The series based on a manga diverts slightly, by ending the series in a completely original way. While this differs from the movie "x/1999" it still is a good way to end the series. I found this series to be entertaining as well as meaningful. The way that kamui is portrayed is wonderful. He is shown as not a spoiled brat with power, but a person who is trying to rebel against a destiny that he neither wants nor cares for. The weight of the world rests on his shoulders and he would rather deny his existance then face the consequences. While the ending is depressing, the end result is heartfelt. It states the message that we will all live on, as long as people rememeber us and still love us. that is the true way to immortality, by touching the people around us. A definente classic in my book. The only complaint is the negative ending.
well that's clamp for ya.
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