Fri, Apr 6, 2007
A new and deadly breed of covert agent walks the streets. Known as Contractors, these assassins and spies wield bizarre supernatural powers to carry out the dirty work of others. They thrive in the underworld, between rumor and reality, their loyalties always in question. One among these operatives is more mysterious than the rest - The masked killer BK201, the Black Reaper. His true identity and intentions remain unknown, but as his path weaves through the shadows and alleys of Tokyo, blood is spilled on both sides of the law. It's a new age of confusion, and the rules of engagement have changed.
Thu, Apr 19, 2007
The Contractors weren't the only product of the appearance of Hell's Gate? Others were changed, as well. And Tahara is the only human to have ever survived a journey into the void. A decade later, he is in isolation within his own skin, alone in his research of the Gate even in the company of his estranged daughter, Mai. Hei is willing to chaperone the girl, but a suffering and lonely child is likely to act out. Mai isn't playing with matches, though fires rage in the city none the less, some perhaps bright enough to hide the light from the newest star in the sky.
Thu, May 24, 2007
Kurasawa is in over his head, the private-eye oblivious to the deadly game of cat and mouse playing out around him in the night. What began as a search for a lost pet has turned into an investigation of a freshly discovered corpse. The detective stumbles upon a suspect, but the crimes committed by the man are far more incredible than those of which he is accused. Thanks to the actions of a jealous queen, violence and the impossible surround a simple gumshoe that is now a player in a contest between pawns.
Thu, Jun 14, 2007
Urban legends and rumors thrive around Hell's Gate, but some things are fact: People have been known to go mad at the mouth of the supernatural void. And the Black Reaper's new mission will allow him to witness this truth first-hand. The Contractor is to infiltrate PANDORA and recover the Meteor Shard, a much-desired artifact from within the Gate that might hold the answers to questions that haven't even been asked. Hei goes undercover, and when he's not hiding in plain sight behind a broom and a janitor's uniform, he is subjected to risky research - And suspicion. It seems there's been a murder.
Thu, Jun 21, 2007
The Gate once more offers new riddles to those who investigate its power, and the fresh mysteries lead Hei to even more questions. Clues are popping up in the chaos surrounding Corinna's death, and the signs point to Contractor involvement. Meena suspects a hidden monster, but how can she know for sure when the admitted killer at hand shows glimmers of kindness? But no one knows a murderer like another murderer, so it doesn't take Hei long to prove her theory. He lashes out at one so much like himself, the battle spilling into the streets within Hell's Gate - And at least one urban legend proves to be true.
Thu, Jun 28, 2007
Yin may be used to feeling alone, but the somber Doll has no idea that so many are seeking her company after an encounter with a rival faction leaves her wandering the streets. Faces from her past and present comb the city, but not all who search for Yin are looking keep her safe. Alliances are always shaky at best in the world of Contractors, and Huang can't have the medium falling into enemy hands. When a familiar voice calls out to Yin, offering forth a name not heard for many moons, she will have a choice to make. The wrong decision could lead to her death.
Thu, Jul 12, 2007
A wave of terrorism is washing over Tokyo. Supposedly secure government buildings are being bombed in quick succession. With so many secret agencies vying for control of the mysteries of Hell's Gate, blame might be tough to assign - though the reappearance of a Contractor named Amber might serve to narrow the list of usual suspects considerably. Operatives on both side of the law are hunting her down. Some want justice, some want revenge. Amber wants chaos in the streets. If her past is any indicator, she'll get exactly what she desires. All signs point to something big.
Thu, Jul 19, 2007
Tokyo is locked down, and the whole world is on alert. Omens are appearing from the false stars on down, and the last time these signs all swirled in the same breath, bad things happened in South America. Chaos follows Amber as well, and the members of Evening Primrose will stop at nothing to bring their leader's plans to fruition. The Black Reaper knows the destruction that can be unleashed if Amber isn't stopped - and he's willing to risk the wrath of his own team to thwart her. When the two powerful Contractors finally meet face to face, she offers to share a secret. It may not be enough to save her life.
Thu, Jul 26, 2007
Kirihara is obsessed with the drama of betrayal and revenge playing out on the streets she is supposed to protect, but her questions remain unanswered. BK201 and Amber. Are they friends or foes? Hei doesn't have a lot of people he can call confidant, but low level gangster Sakurai Kenji will do for now. The two men are spending a little time together after a chance meeting. The friendship is going to be complicated, though. Kenji is charged by his boss to care for a black-market Doll, and he quickly develops feelings for the passive girl - the same Doll Hei's team is trying to find.
Thu, Aug 9, 2007
The appearance of the Contractors changed everything. Even faith was shaken when the impossible sprung into existence. BK201 has a new mission: Infiltrate a religious cult devoted to worshipping Hell's Gate and assassinate its prophet. The kill will be tough to pull off. The leader of the sect is as mysterious as the object of her congregation's reverence, appearing only once a year - and it is suspected that she has supernatural abilities. Hei will have a contact inside the sect, a Contractor called Shihoko. She isn't unfamiliar to the members of the Black Reaper's cell. For one team member, she's been a source of great pain.
Top-rated
Thu, Sep 6, 2007
November 11 has gone AWOL, and his team fears the worst. Mao knows where the Brit is - the cat's view of the Contractor is unobstructed from Amber's lap. Members of many factions have gathered in EPR headquarters, and the fate of the world is the topic of discussion ... at least the world as Amber sees it. She has no qualms speaking freely of her supposed treachery in South America, but it's her prediction of treasons to come prove that prove to be more eye-opening. Alliances shift easily in this strange war. The Black Reaper will have to face the fact that his most hated rival might be his only hope.
Wed, Mar 26, 2008
As the cherry blossoms bloom, so does Otsuka's fascination with a heroic masked man who appeared to her within a strange dream. She creates a character based on the mysterious figure to include in her popular fan fiction - but the wrong people might be reading her stories. Within the Contractor underground, intrigue and murder surround a stolen chemical. When the pages of Otsuka's work reveal details that point to the coveted substance, BK201 might be forced to write the final chapter of the young author's tale.