Nekomiya Kai & Yamato Takahiro | Kaze no Stigma - Kouen no Miko

Japanese: 風の聖痕 紅炎の御子
Synonyms: Kaze no Seikon, Stigma of the Wind
Type: Manga
Volumes: 2
Chapters: 11
Status: Completed
Published: Apr 9, 2007 to Mar 6, 2008
Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural
Authors: Nekomiya Kai (Art), Yamato Takahiro (Story)
Serialization: Dragon Age

Synopsis: Four years ago, Kannagi Kazuma was defeated by his cousin Kannagi Ayano for the right to be the successor of Enraiha, a sword passed down in the Kannagi family. His defeat, along with his lack of talent for Enjutsu (The fire arts, and is also the Kannagi Clan's specialty), resulted in his banishment from the family. Now, Kazuma returns as Yagami Kazuma, a skilled master of Fuujutsu (the wind arts). At the same time, a number of murders at the Kannagi residence perpetrated by a powerful Fuujutsushi cast suspicion on him.

Related Manga

Alternative version: Kaze no Stigma

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Fateful Encounters

Loyal Kiss

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Background: The Kaze no Stigma (novel) story remains incomplete at Six main volumes and Five short story collections due of author's death. Gonzo adapted his novels into a 2007 television anime series.

Source: MAL Manga Info, Baka updates

Side notes: It's not probably surprising to say that I've seen the anime first before even checking out the manga. The manga is short and reading the novels aren't giving any final answers if one likes to have them. The rest is left to the hints given and imagination of the reader's own mind. Still this manga is a kinda transformation piece or moving a bit aside from the earlier theme of the magic swords.

The art is okay, it's a bit hard to evaluate based on the scans but there is definite shounen feel to it, lil sketchy and not so detailed always. Also the plot is kinda airy and not set in the stone which can be due of the already known illness of the author and transforming the novel into a graphic form. Still as it is it's quite fun to read and it fits nicely today's oddball collection theme.

Main characters

Manga version

Kazuma Yagami (八神 和麻)

Age: 22

Height: 176 cm (estimation)

Real name: Kannagi Kazuma (神凪和麻)

Kazuma is a former member of the Kannagi household. He was banished from the family by his father after he was defeated by Ayano during the Successor Ceremony for the Enraiha, his family's sacred sword. Since Kazuma is a son from the main family, making him the legitimate successor, even his own father considered him a disgrace for lacking the power to use fire magic, his family's specialty. Four years later, at the age of twenty-two, he returns to Japan as a skilled master of the wind arts. Though he was not responsible for the killings in the Kannagi household that began to occur upon his return to Japan, he is still prepared to start a war with his former family. 

The Kannagi family quickly finds out that the meek and powerless Kazuma they once knew is now more powerful than any of them, which frustrates Ayano to no end.

Before being exiled from the Kanagi family, Kazuma was a kind, caring boy who only wanted his family's love, but after being cast out for being powerless, his personality took a dramatic turn. In the four years after his exile, Kazuma becomes much more cynical about the world around him, especially in matters concerning love, due in no small part to how his family treated him for being powerless. With his wind power, Kazuma tends to look down on members of the Kannagi family, finding it amusing and ironic that the very family who cast him out for being powerless, are now the powerless ones themselves compared to him.

Manga version

Ayano Kannagi (神凪綾乃)

Sixteen-year-old Ayano is a skilled En-Jutsushi and the successor to the Kannagi family's head. She is arrogant and irrational, usually taking action by herself even while going against orders. Though she seems undisciplined, she is very proud of her heritage. Whenever a problem arises for the family, Ayano is usually unable to see that it was the very policies of the Kannagi family that caused the problem in the first place, believing that there is nothing wrong with the way the Kannagis do things.

Despite claiming to hate Kazuma, Ayano develops a crush on him, but is often irritated when he makes a move on her and is prone to throwing fits of rage when he gets close to another woman. She later comes to realize that she is actually in love with him. Kazuma is also the only person she sees as stronger in power and presence than even her own father.

Ayano's power is the Crimson Flame, although she is not yet able to consciously control it. She also holds Enraiha, the Kannagi's sacred sword, which she won by defeating Kazuma at the successor ceremony four years before the start of the story. The sword has fire properties and can be summoned by Ayano at any time.

Ayano's friends, Nanase and Yukari, are the only classmates at her school who know about her abilities and the fact that her family hunts demons and spirits. Ayano also has something of a sweet tooth, spending a lot of time at cake shops after school and gorging herself on sweets, especially if she's in a bad mood.

Ren Kannagi (神凪 煉)

Kazuma's younger brother. He looks up to his Ayano Nee-sama and practically idolises his Kazuma Nii-sama, stating that one day he hopes to be as strong as him so he can protect everyone. Ren has the appearance of a bishōnen, which sometimes earns him the contempt of some of his male classmates. Even so, Ren appears to be very popular at his school, excelling in his studies and in his athletic abilities. His biggest admirers include Suzuhara Kannon and Serizawa Tatsuya.

Ren's power is the Golden Flame, said to have the largest purification effect.

Ren has never liked the fact that his brother Kazuma was cast out of the family simply for having no power. He always hopes that one day, his brother Kazuma and his father will get along someday so that the three of them can be a family again.

Supporting

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Juugo Kannagi (神凪 重悟)

Ayano's father and Genma's cousin. He is the current head of the Kannagi family. Jūgo worries about his headstrong daughter. Contrary to the Kannagi doctrine that is based solely on strength, Jūgo has been trying to stop discrimination against the Fūga Clan. He also regrets not being able to stop Kazuma's expulsion from the family. Believing that Kazuma is essential to the Kannagis, he constantly creates situations in which Ayano can form a relationship with Kazuma.

As the head of the Kannagi family, Jūgo is responsible for directing the other members of the head family and branch families as well as the Fūga Clan. Jūgo is never seen in the series leaving the Kannagi compound, and rarely even leaves his meeting room.

He is actually considered to be the strongest En-jutsushi of the Kannagi and wields the purple flame. Unfortunately, because of what happened to his leg during a car accident, Genma, Kazuma and Ren's father is considered to be the strongest.

Nanase Kudou (久遠 七瀬)

One of Ayano's best friends and classmates. She and Yukari know about the existence of jutsushi. Nanase is also a very athletic student, who is part of many of their school's athletic clubs, and is admired by many of the female students. While she is not as well connected as Yukari, Nanase is just as caring and carries much sway with the students.

Kirika Tachibana (橘 霧香)

A detective working for the Tokyo MPD's Special Investigation Unit, in charge of investigating crimes related to jutsu. She occasionally works together with Kazuma. Her department aims to become the new partner of the Kannagi family, filling the gap made by the Fūga Clan's betrayal. To that end, they assist the Ōgamis by investigating and tracking other users of jutsu. 

Yukari Shinomiya (篠宮 由香里)

One of Ayano's best friends and classmates. Yukari, along with Nanase, often teases Ayano about her apparent crush on Kazuma. She is well-connected to the information network of the student body and often knows what is happening around the school. Yukari's information extends beyond the school and into many areas of the Tokyo metropolis. She also carries a taser of unexplained origin with her.