Shikabane Hime: Aka

Undead mercenary Makina hunts a predator targeting young girls

Makina is an undead teenage mercenary who has been trained to hunt down corpses that refuse to stay buried. She receives her first mission to eliminate a sick individual who has a specific obsession with biting young girls. This assignment marks the beginning of her career as she targets this dangerous predator. The narrative focuses on her unique nature as a reanimated being and her professional duties in dealing with threats that others might overlook. Her skills are put to the test as she pursues this specific criminal, highlighting the intersection of her undead existence and her role as a hunter of the dead.

Makina hunts revived children while Ouri aids one he mistakes for Hikaru.

Following a highway accident, three deceased children return as Shikabane, prompting Makina to eliminate them. Ouri inadvertently obstructs her mission by assisting one Shikabane in escaping, mistakenly believing her to be a living girl named Hikaru, much to Makina’s annoyance. Keisei, a Contracted Monk and Makina’s counterpart, joins forces with members of the Kougon Sect, an anti-corpse organization, to help defeat the targets. During a chase in a park, the three Shikabane merge into a single entity. After presenting Makina with a drawing of her family created by Hikaru, Ouri returns to his apartment in tears.

Makina hunts a Shikabane while Ouri recovers in a nursery under Dr. Rukuoka’s care.

Makina struggles to hunt an unknown Shikabane responsible for killing young women. Ouri, recovering from illness, stays in a newborn nursery infirmary under Dr. Sunao Rukuoka and encounters Makina. When Makina attempts to shoot a lone baby, Ouri pleads for its life, but they are attacked by a Shikabane revealed to be the infant’s mother. Meanwhile, Keisei learns from Rika Aragami that someone is conducting illegal experiments on inanimate corpses to create monstrous Shikabane. Dr. Rukuoka attempts to perform similar experiments on Makina, but she escapes and kills the Shikabane. As Makina aims her gun at Rukuoka, Keisei arrives and stops her from firing.

Makina hunts a zombie J-pop singer while Ouri investigates a past tragedy.

Keisei orders Makina to eliminate Kun Osaki, a J-pop singer who became a Shikabane after refusing to accept her death. The mission is complicated by yakuza interference, prompted by a tip from a mysterious monk. Meanwhile, Ouri searches for information about a fire that killed Makina and her family, leading him to her tombstone at Hakuji Temple. Makina reveals Osaki is her target, prompting Ouri to assist her. They locate Osaki, who transforms into a Shikabane. Keisei arrives to explain the connection between Shikabane Hime and Contracted Monks. As music from Osaki’s album plays, Keisei aids Makina in destroying the zombie singer.

Keisei reveals Ouri's job truth, leading to suspension and SUV Shikabane attack

Keisei discloses the reality of Ouri’s occupation, causing his immediate suspension from active duty. A Shikabane disguised as an SUV haunts a rental car facility, murdering anyone who enters. Meanwhile, Itsuki Yamagami, a mysterious and attractive transfer student, befriends Ouri on her first day. Makina investigates the SUV alone but encounters both Ouri and Itsuki at the site. Inside the vehicle, the Shikabane forces the trio to kill one another to survive. Makina shoots the creature from within and ejects Ouri. Ouri then meets a rogue priest of the Kougon Sect who explains that Shikabane Hime must eliminate 108 Shikabane to reach heaven. It is revealed that Itsuki is a Shikabane Hime under the supervision of Contracted Monk Takamasa Sogi.

Akasha Shishido revealed as traitor while Keisei fights SUV Shikabane with dark artifact

The rogue Kougon Sect priest Akasha Shishido is exposed for his radical views on Shikabane Hime. Keisei, ignoring his suspension, helps Makina defeat an SUV Shikabane by severing its right arm. Discovering Akasha used a dark artifact to create the Shikabane from human lives, Keisei weaponizes the artifact against the priest, forcing him to retreat but suffering severe health consequences. Meanwhile, a hidden third Shikabane Hime and a Contracted Monk observe the conflict, with Ouri narrowly dodging a sniper shot. The Kougon Sect is stunned by Akasha’s reappearance. Although Keisei is reinstated, he remains in recovery from the intense psychic backlash caused by his use of the dark artifact during the battle.

Akasha's past and Ouri encounter a telekinetic Shikabane with new allies

Akasha reveals he was the only survivor of a suppression unit hunting powerful Shikabane five years ago, during which his Shikabane Hime was split in half. Unable to restore her body a week later, he stole ritual scriptures and went rogue. Meanwhile, Ouri discusses a blog by former classmate Mitsuyoshi, rumored to have been electrocuted, with Sumitori. Ouri deduces Mitsuyoshi dropped out and became a Shikabane with telekinetic powers. When Ouri meets Mitsuyoshi at night, he is saved by brawler Minai Ruo and her handler Shuji Isaki. Despite Makina and Minai's attempts to kill him, Mitsuyoshi's strength and abilities allow him to resist their efforts to subdue him.

Minai Reverts to Evil Shikabane After Shuji's Death and Faces Saki Amase

Minai defeats Mitsuyoshi after hearing Sumitori's voice on Ouri's phone, then confiscates the device as evidence while offering a replacement. Shuji is kidnapped and killed by thugs he previously offended, causing Minai to revert to an evil Shikabane driven by regret. Saki Amase hunts her down with a giant hammer but hesitates to kill Minai. Ouri flees with Minai, hiding her in a bar where he works part-time, and leaves to plan an escape from the city. Unbeknownst to Ouri, his manager is a Contracted Monk. The monk informs Minai that she can return to being a Shikabane Hime by making a new contract with Ouri, but she chooses to destroy herself instead.

Makina rescues students from a Shikabane while Ouri’s past with a cat is revealed.

Makina saves students from a Shikabane in a haunted building, where Nozomi Kasuga becomes obsessed with death. Ouri questions Makina about Minai, prompting her to consult Keisei about Ouri’s history. Keisei recounts that Ouri arrived at an orphanage at age three, detached until he rescued a crying black cat. The cat was soon killed by a car, making Ouri acutely aware of death. Later, Nozomi claims she understands Makina better than Ouri does. Makina retorts that Ouri knows more about her than Nozomi ever will, highlighting the complex dynamics between the characters regarding their perceptions of death and each other.

Keishi confronts the Dai Sojo while Ouri investigates a cult linked to the Shikabane and the Seven Stars.

After discovering Minai was destroyed by the Kougon Sect, Keishi attempts to confront the Gon Dai Sojo but is restrained. Meanwhile, Ouri investigates a cult whose members regenerate after burning, suspecting a Shikabane connection, but finds the meeting unimpressive. The cult founder Ooyatsuka is killed by the Seven Stars, a powerful Shikabane group. Akasha, a traitor monk, allies with them to destroy the Kougon Sect. Keisei identifies the Contracted Monk responsible for Minai as Sadahiro Mibu, Ouri’s manager. With their cover exposed, Sadahiro and his Shikabane Akira Tōoka flee, leaving Ouri jobless. Makina experiences flashbacks of the Seven Stars, implying she was assaulted and killed by them.

Kougon Sect tracks Seven Stars while Makina seeks vengeance and Keisei pursues Akasha

Surveillance footage reveals the Seven Stars, led by Hokuto, are in the vicinity, prompting Rika to assign Keisei to pursue them. This development solidifies Makina’s resolve to exact vengeance against the group. Meanwhile, Ouri temporarily returns to the orphanage due to unemployment, and Keishi discloses his past: he was raised by Makina’s parents before moving to Riko’s orphanage, eventually becoming her Contracted Monk to avenge her family after the Seven Stars burned them alive. As Ena possesses Ouri to aid the plan against the Kougon Sect, Kowaku and Akasha attack Makina and Keisei at the temple. Akasha retreats after admitting the assault was a diversion, leading Keisei into hot pursuit. Makina remains to face Kowaku, while Keisei is stabbed by the possessed Ouri while checking on the orphans.

Keisei wounds Akasha and transfers his pact to Ouri while Makina defeats Kowaku.

After freeing Ouri from Ena, Akasha mortally wounds Keisei, removing his left eye. Makina struggles to shoot Kowaku, who can alter his body composition. When Kowaku pursues Makina into the orphanage, Keisei uses ancient scrolls to harden Kowaku's body and attack Akasha. Suffering from his injuries, Keisei transfers his pact to Ouri, causing Makina sadness. With renewed resolve, Makina destroys Kowaku, draining much of Ouri's energy. Despite this, Akasha retains some pity for Ouri and secretly heals his bruises.

Funeral Program for a Contracted Monk

During Keisei’s funeral, head inspector Rinsen Shirae informs Ouri that Keisei ascended to heaven before becoming a Shikabane. Sougen Takamine, Keisei’s first mentor, explains the roles of Shikabane, Shikabane Hime, and Contracted Monks, noting that a Shikabane Hime must kill 108 Shikabane to enter heaven. Despite Rinsen’s advice against it, Ouri resolves to become a Contracted Monk to honor Keisei and protect Makina. He meets Sadahiro and Akira, who knew of his connection to Makina through his past acquaintance with Minai before her destruction. Ouri declares his determination to follow his older brother’s path. The episode features brief scenes from the series interspersed throughout the narrative.

Path of Light

My Enemy

The beloved anomaly

Itsuki's Form

Nature and Regrets

The narrative centers on an individual identified by the moniker Happiness

A simple and ordinary desire is granted

My Mother was Defiled

The Value of the Living

Journeying to the realm beyond the depths of hell

One Hundred and Eight Lies