Dark Dash

--by Nozomi Watase

This is her latest work, and her art just keeps getting better. It's put out by Nora Comics, there are currently five volumes out. The story centers around Tenka Tsukito, age 16. He is one of the three most powerful users in the world of dark dash. This power, when utilized by what they call a rein, gives that person special abilities, such as levitation, or increased skills in combat. However, dark dash can only be used at night, though I haven't quite figured out why yet. One can tell when a person is using dark dash because it turns their skin a "muddy" color, and depending on how much of their skin turns color, their strength in dark dash can be measured. In Tenka's case, his whole body, plus his rein, can turn muddy in color. A rein can be anything; a bandana, katana, or as with Tenka, a three foot long boomerang. Just about anyone who can handle dark dash belongs to STAD (Special Training Association of Dark Dash), and are called strikers. STAD is headed by Se! iha, who wants to make the world a better place for his family; however, his means for doing so are radical and involve killing a lot of people. The story develops around Tenka trying to help Renon get back her younger brother and father, who are both being held by STAD, and stopping Seiha.

Finally! New Images Added!
(To the image section. ^_^)

Characters

Tenka Tsukito

age 16, he doesn't talk very much, but skateboards a lot. Also omewhat of a loner, though when he makes a friend he is very loyal to that person, as with Renon, Suoh, and Aoi. He is also very fond of cats and has about fifteen of them, all named after various Japanese dishes. He, Seiha, and Shinra are the characters strongest in dark dash; their entire body darkens to a muddy color. His rein is a boomerang which he named Nakano, after his favorite candy.

Renon Hibiki

age 17, her younger brother, Shinra, and her father are being held captive by STAD. She managed to escape Seiha, who wants to marry her, and found Tenka and Suoh-sensei to help her free her family. She has also become a very good cook and does so whenever she is stressed out or worried. She cannnot use dark dash.

Muneki Suoh

age 25, he was helping Renon's father, Hakase Hibiki, in his research on dark dash, before he was captured. It is suspected by Aoi and Tenka that he may have a crush or some sort of interest in Renon. He is very strong in dark dash, his skin can darken up to his neck. His rein are two club-like sticks called tonfas.

Shinra Hibiki

age 16, Renon's younger brother. His health is a little fragile. His rein is a sword. He and Renon are childhood friends of Seiha.

Seiha

age 18, head of STAD, is used to getting what he wants. At the moment he is trying to get Renon and Suoh back, after which he intends to give the world a makeover. His rein is a Japanese katana (sword) which he named Muneki.

Sakai

age 20, I'm a little unsure of what her rank in STAD is, but she seems to be one or two below Seiha. She adores Seiha because of his long hair and fully believes that the people who can use dark dash are a superior form of people. She is also strong in dark dash, with the skin up to her midback being able to darken. Her rein is a steel whip.

Matsuri

age 31, he basically does all the dirty work of running an association and considered the "brain" of STAD. It isn't mentioned whether or not he can use dark dash.

Aoi Kurata

age 17, an ex-striker, he defected when he realized STAD was responsible for the fire that killed his parents, also because the idea of assasinating people did not appeal to him. His rein is his bandana, and he can use dark dash to levitate objects. He is pretty strong (third in his class at STAD), he can draw in dark dash up to his stomach. He is very cheerful, always joking, and he and Tenka are the only ones who suspect that Suoh may be in love with Renon.

Choujuurou

age 17, a classmate of Aoi, they were friends till Aoi defected, although Aoi hopes they can still be friends in spite of that. His rein are his glasses, and he uses his dark dash to see through objects. Not very powerful though, can only darken his hands.

Rerune

age 23, sort of one step higher than a striker. He is more powerful than Aoi in levitating objects. He is very musically inclined and sings and hums a lot. His rein is an earring.

Buan

age 21, a friend of Rerune, his rein are two broadswords. He sort of resembles the personality of Wufei in Gundam Wing--always trying to prove his skill in combat. His special attacks involve butterflies which rip into his opponents without mercy.

Tenka's Grandmother

She lives with Tenka's grandfather out at some mountain. Actually, they own the mountain. Anyway, they have a pretty good defense system set up to protect the place too. She is only about three feet tall, but she makes up for it with her energy and extremely talkative personality. Extremely talkative especially when compared to the silence of Tenka and his grandfather.

Tenka's Grandfather

Like Tenka, he is very quiet and also a big fan of that same candy Tenka eats. He and Tenka's grandmother are very opposite; she's small and talkative, he's huge and quiet. But they both look after Tenka and take good care of him and his friends.

Jeanne

Jeanne is the daughter of the president of some anonymous republic. She's very bubbly and fascinated by Japanese culture. She's a little naive and is in search of the soul of Japan (Yamato Damashii). While in Japan, she's determined to get her picture taken with ninjas, geishas, and samurai. In some ways, she's a bit of a dreamer, but on the whole, acts with good intentions.