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Misao Harada has been able to see supernatural beings since birth. Normally, these demons and monsters would only do harmless things, but ever since her sixteenth birthday, they've become a threat to her life. When one of these beings attempts to kill her, Misao's life is saved by her former childhood friend, Kyo Usui. As it turns out, Kyo is the leader of the tengu, a bird demon clan.

Misao learns that she's the Bride of Prophecy: a maiden whose flesh is rumored to give immortality and whose hand in marriage can give any clan who claims it prosperity. Obviously not wanting to be eaten or forcibly married, she enters the protection of Kyo and his clan. For his part, Kyo would give anything to marry her himself, but the mysterious Record of the Holy Fruit hovers over both of their heads.

Black Bird (ブラックバード, Burakku Baado) is an urban fantasy shojo manga by Kanoko Sakurakoji. It was serialized in Betsucomi from July 2006 to December 2012 and was complied into eighteen volumes. The English release was handled by Viz Media.

In 2009, the manga was adapted into a drama CD.

In 2010, a light novel adaptation was released under the title Black Bird: Missing.

In 2019, a stage play adaptation ran for five days.


This series includes examples of:

  • All Men Are Perverts: Especially including Kyo, who thinks erotic ukiyo-e artwork, a book of 48 hot sex tips, and a laid-out futon is the best way to celebrate.
  • All of the Other Reindeer: "I, Misao Harada, can see spirits. When I was younger, people hated me because of it."
  • Always Save the Girl: Kyo's entire reason for everything he's done for the last ten years, all the destruction, death and rebellion to take over his clan, was quite simply so he could marry Misao, he doesn't really care about anything else. He will always save Misao.
  • Amnesiac Lover: Most of Misao's childhood memories of Kyo were sealed away by Sho before the story began. She still had enough to remember Kyo and be completely disappointed when he didn't meet her expectations and turned out to be a dirty pervert.
  • Anti-Hero: Kyo is not a good guy. He will kill, steal, lie and destroy his way through anyone if he has to for Misao.
  • Belligerent Sexual Tension: Invoked in Chapter 27. Kyo calls Misao a Tsundere, and claims that he likes that. Then Misao reflects on their relationship, thinking about how "We argue over the littlest things" and "He does mean things to me" but they "laugh together and fall in love all over again."
  • Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Shuuhei and Shojo seem like really nice people at first... of course, they're both complete and utter bastards. Inverted with Kyo who can act like a real Jerkass, but is in fact incredibly caring and gentle (not that this makes up for some of the things he does).
  • Bound and Gagged: Misao is tied up when captured by Sojo.
  • Butt-Monkey: Misao comes up as this, and it's NOT Played for Laughs. She can see spirits, which is already scary enough, and used to be harrassed or hated because of that. Then, she gets caught in the wars of the Tengu and is under attack many times. While some Tengus are sympathetic to her plight, the most powerful ally she has among them is... a Fetishized Abuser.
  • Chekhov's Gun: Kensuke gives Misao a bottle of Whitesnakes' poison which comes in handy when she's later trapped alone with Soujou.
  • Cool and Unusual Punishment: While discussing what would be a proper punishment if Sojo rebelled again, Misao suggested keeping him away from women so he wouldn't have a family. The men expressed horror at this, as it would also deprive him of other carnal pleasures, something men in this series value.
    • In some translations she suggests to castrate him - which would be way OOC, but would explain utter horror on their faces better.
  • The Chew Toy: the entire supernatural realm is gunning for Misao's flesh and blood, and they're not shy about it.
  • Crazy Jealous Guy: As protective as Kyo is, he can also get territorial when Misao is concerned.
  • Dangerous 16th Birthday: Misao becomes the 'bride of prophecy' on her 16th birthday. Poor girl.
  • Death by Childbirth: Kyo has a nightmare of Misao getting eaten by her own unborn child.
  • Disappeared Dad: Kyo's father disappeared from the village after he unintentionally drove his wife, Kyo's mother, to suicide.
  • Enfant Terrible: Kyo has a nightmare of walking in on his yet unborn son eating Misao's corpse. Actually averted once he's born for real.
  • Erotic Eating: When Kyo buys an ice-cream cone for Misao he ends up getting some on his finger, and holds it up for her to lick. Ironically, the ladies watching the pair seem more interested.
  • Eyes Always Shut: Hoki, though he does open them on occasion.
  • Fantastic Medicinal Bodily Product:
    • Kyo, a bird demon, licks Misao to heal her wounds.
    • Misao's blood can heal demons, which can be sexually transmitted as well.
  • Fetishized Abuser: Most of Kyo's behavior early on falls into the category of sexual harassment. Yet, he gets scotfree by later being portrayed as gentle and protective of Misao.
  • Forced to Watch: Kyo is threatened more than once with watching someone eat or ravish his girlfriend.
  • Friend to All Children: Kyou, surprisingly. There's a reason why he and Tarou get along really well.
  • Good Girls Avoid Abortion: Averted. Misao's reason for not aborting her fetus is because doing so would likely set off events that would cause Kyo's death and her either rape at the hand of another clan, or being eaten alive.
  • Good Is Not Nice: Kyo can be an incredible Jerkass but he's the only thing standing between Misao and a messy death.
  • Hair Reboot: Justified in this case, as Misao gets hair extensions after her close shave with Sojo. Although she doesn't tell him, she does it because she notices Kyo looks sad everytime he sees her short hair.
  • I Have You Now, My Pretty: Misao is tied up and encased behind a magic barrier while an evil Tengu gloats about being able to ravish her.
  • Interspecies Romance: Demons and humans in love!
  • Intimate Healing: Poor Misao keeps getting attacked by other demons, and Kyo heals her wounds by licking them erotically. She's not wild about this. On the other hand, Misao can recharge the energies of the person she kisses, so she also gives this to Kyo more than once.
  • Heartwarming Orphan: The orphans in the Tengu village absolutely love Misao.
  • Hot for Student: Kyo gets a job as a teacher at Misao's school, the better to harass protect her.
  • Jerkass: Pretty much every male character in the series is rude, overly aggressive, and/or petty.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Kyo can be a complete and utter Jerkass.... However, he does loves Misao, is willing to die for her and do anything to make her happy, and can be incredibly sweet and gentle to anyone smaller or weaker than himself (particularly children, which is why Tarou is so devoted to him).
  • Kick the Dog: A literal example: in his youth Sho beats a puppy to near death. In fact, Sho does a lot of dog kicking. First off, Misao when she was a little girl, then Tarou and his brothers, then Misao again...
  • The Klutz: Subverted. Misao's classmates think she's one, but in reality she's always being tripped or bruised by invisible demons.
  • Meaningful Name: Kiyo, a snake demon. She is named after a a character from a folktale who turned into a serpent to murder her lover after being jilted.
  • Nice Guy: Dojouji Kensuke. Despite being a snake demon, Kensuke is quite possibly the only gentleman in a cast full of misogynist assholes in that he never lets his physical attraction to Misao override his concern for her feelings. Ironically, this is the very reason why he has no chance in hell of becoming her primary suitor.
  • Nice Guys Finish Last: Alas, poor Kensuke.
  • Perpetual Molt: Lampshaded: "Kyo's secret problem... He worries about losing his feathers..."
  • Pretty Boy: Kyo, whom Misao mistakes for a pretty girl upon seeing him as an adult.
  • Purely Aesthetic Glasses: Kyo wears glasses when in disguise as a teacher.
  • Real Men Hate Sugar: Kyo hates sweets to the point that he almost becomes nauseous from a taste of ice cream, but he still forces himself to eat the cake that Misao made.
  • Sibling Triangle: Kyo, Misao and Sho. Kyo and Sho are brothers.
  • Single-Target Sexuality: Kyo is a Misaosexual.
  • Schmuck Bait: Misao, they might as well be holding up a sign saying "THIS IS A TRAP" and you still fall for it!

Alternative Title(s): Black Bird

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