Basara - 13 episodes 26 Manga
contributed by Zazriel

Main Anime Characters:

Sasara (Tatara) - Sweet, Clever and Serious

Shuri (the Red King) - Dedicated to Japan, Ruthless, Responsible, Arrogant and Lusty

Shidou - Old Fashioned and Ruthless

Ageha - Wild, Driven, Sly

Hayato - Over eager and a bit of a Bumbler

Nagi - Elegant and Wise

Kakuji - Loyal, Competent

Kagerou, Nihonbashi,Yangibashi, Takebashi - owlets - comic relief, loyal, heroic

Toki, Tori-san - parrot, horse - loyal heroic

Yat - Heroic

Short Synopsis:

Once upon a time in some past or future Japan - an emperor split his country among his 4 sons and himself. The four sons became the Red, Blue, White, and Black Kings. Their reign was so cruel that legend told of a child being born to free Japan. In a small village fraternal twins were born and Nagi the seer said one was the child of legend - Tatara. Everyone thought it was the boy but in truth it was the girl Sasara - a secret that though Nagi knew he never told.

The Red King is totally disgusted with his family and fears for Japan - though he has done many good things in his realm he is ruthless and can be cruel. When he finds out that Tatara has been born in his realm, he eventually kills the family and destroys the village. Sasara, wanting to save her people, pretends to be her brother to get them to follow her and leads them to safety, thus taking the first step on the road to her future.

The story is full of intrigue, back-biting, and some very improbable bits - like the living fossilized man. It also has a great deal of sadness and potential for angst as Shuri and Sasara fall in love with each other without ever knowing the other is their greatest enemy. The anime sadly never finishes the manga series but what there is has good slash potential.

Potential Slash Couples:

Shuri and Shidou - either way - best friends since their youth, Shidou believes in Shuri's vision even if he doesn't understand it.

Shidou X Ageha - this is the most likely pairing between the two. Shidou was Ageha's owner at one time and in the series, tortures him and keeps him captive while trying to capture and kill Tatara. Ageha is a consumate disquise artist and often dresses as a woman.

Shuri x Ageha - when Ageha was held prisoner - Shuri visited, aided with the torture to get him to betray Tatara, and threatened him - I doubt it was the only time he visited. Also - he at one time took Ageha's eye in payment for not killing Sasara as a child.

Kakuji x Hayato - Hayato has a lot to learn - I can see Kakuji as a potential teacher.

Kakuj ix Nagi - Kakuji and Nagi conspired with Sasara to give the illusion that her brother lived and was fighting - they seem to trust each other .

Links:

Beautiful Art Gallery with illustrations from most of the Art books:

http://www.geocities.com/basaragallery21/