I just recieved Alichino Volume 2 by Kouyu Shurei from this site...

...after completelly forgetting I gave away volume 1 half a year ago to a friend. >.<  (I was on the wishlist for volume 2 all that time.)

Before I repost volume 2...does anyone remember anything about volume one so I can at least read volume 2 before reposting? It is beautifully illustrated...If I could only remember what happened...

^_^

Here are some summaries to help jog your memory.  (I'm currently reading this, but am enjoying the artwork more than the story...)  Kusabi is moody, and the first volume hints at future plotlines involving his history and events concerning his development into a Kusabi.

This example of shojo, manga for teen girls, will captivate anyone by its art alone. The story involves "Alichinos," beautiful, supernatural beings hunted by humans because they have the power to grant wishes; in fact, the name means "those who entice," and the Alichinos actually feed on the souls of those who seek them out. They especially hunger for the "Kusabi," humans born with exceptionally powerful souls who are the only beings able to kill an Alichino. This opening installment introduces Tsugiri, a handsome young Kusabi who is hunted by some Alichinos and protected by others, including one in owl form who has a penchant for spouting sardonic observations. Both sides of Alichinos are mustering their forces as the book ends, so more plot complications are sure to follow. The story has a dark, magical flow to it, but its main attraction is unquestionably the art. Shurei is an award-winning artist in Japan, but this is her first outing as both writer and artist. Each page of this work is a lovely composition, full of the swirling fabric and hair typical of manga but worked into a layout that is as intriguing as it is beautiful. Her exquisitely fine line work and intense characterization enliven the story, while drawing the readers' attention from panel to panel.

This volume–the first of a trilogy–introduces the concept of the Alichino, a beautiful creature that grants wishes but is inherently evil and feeds off human weaknesses. Tsugiri meets a girl in search of the enigmatic creature in order to save her brother's life. Throughout their quest, he learns more about the Alichino and himself, and this graphic novel ends in a tense cliff-hanger that leaves readers wanting more. Through traditional back-to-front and right-to-left manga illustrations, they are drawn into a world of heroic fantasy and the quest to distinguish between good and evil and truth and deception. This book has exquisite illustrations and a compelling story line. Although delivered with minimal violence, sex, and harsh language, the story is complex.