This story has it all : a seriously cool storyline, beautifully done action scenes, an incredible cast of well-designed and well-rounded characters, fabulous art (and I mean FABULOUS here), drama, comedy, and a little bit of romance. It has something for everyone. "Until Death Do Us Part" moves at lightening speed. There's never a dull moment. It's like a perfectly done action film in manga form. The twist in the beginning of the story is great. I certainly didn't expect it, and while it could have come off as strange or creepy, the author pulled it off with class and intelligence.
The two main characters, Haruka and Mamoru, are perfect foils for each other. They see each other very differently, as you'll find as you read the series. On the outside, it may seem like it's been done before, but it's never been done like this. Yes, Haruka is a little girl, but she's smart, serious, and useful as all get-out. She's nothing like your average anime/manga kid. She doesn't whine and rarely if ever cries (unless she has a seriously good reason to). Her old life has been obliterated, and because of her gift (or curse), she can never, ever, be safe. She becomes a prize worth dying for. Even with all that, she's still a just an innocent kid. She enjoys playing with friends, cooking, and going to school. Her power gives her strength, but she's no ninja bad-ass. She needs Mamoru.
Contrary to what one reviewer said, she did not know that running away would get her parents killed. As she was coming home one day, she "saw" her parents being held by strange men at gunpoint. That's all. She ran away because she was scared and wasn't aware of what was really happening. She only knows that her parents were killed after she heard the gunshots coming from inside her home. Though there was nothing else she could have done (her parents would have most likely been killed anyway), she blames herself, and vows to never run away like that again. She decides to fight, and to fight smart, making her one of the coolest manga characters that I've seen in a long time.
Mamoru is awesome. Yes, he's a blind swordsman, and we've seen that before, but it's who Mamoru is (and not what) that makes him so cool. He's an incredible fighter, but he's not invincible. He needs help sometimes. Haruka and Mamoru's partner, Igawa, as well as others, come together to fill a great supporting role. Mamoru isn't the type of guy who'd let a little girl fend for herself against the bad guys, but it doesn't hurt that he has a beef with those bad guys himself. He seems like a good guy, but it may not have always been so. He's got demons of his own to fight, and those are slowly revealed as the story goes on.
The rest of the characters are just as good. As the cast grew, I, like other readers, became worried that it would be too much for the author to handle. My fears were unfounded. I've never seen a large cast done so well. Every character has an interesting back story, but the author's real skill lies in being able to fit that back story in with the main plot, and to do it succinctly and beautifully. He never gives it all away at once, but throws us bits and pieces to hold our attention. Each character is unique and complicated, with multifaceted personalities and relationships. I found myself believing in and caring about every single one of the characters in "Until Death Do Us Part".
For me, this series is a 10/10. It deserves way more love than it gets. I'd love to see it licensed in the U.S. by a company that will keep up with the Japanese releases, and do it well. Until then, the scanlation teams that have been working so hard on it have been getting the word out and doing a fabulous job. Please, if you like this series as much as I do, tell your friends and family to pick it up. Buy copies and support the mangaka. It's worth it. ^_^
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