There is a lot of manga out there which deals with the theme of the occult and features epic battles between forces which support our world, and those which worship the darker places beyond.  KEKKAISHI, by Yellow Tanabe, and published by Viz, is one such story.  A kekkaishi, according to this tale, is a demon hunter with the ability to cast restricting spells around his quarry, thus neutralizing their power and making the non-magical world a safer place for everyone to live in.  Yet, being a part of our world, these young kekkaishi have more than monsters on their plate.  They go to school, pursuing good grades, battling wicked addictions to sweets and surviving life with family members during the day.  

Yoshimuri Sumimura, our hero in this story, is joined in his nocturnal battles by Tokine Yukimura and Gen.  Tokine is 16 years old, a fellow student at Yoshimuri’s school and a member of a rival kekkaishi family who believes it and not Yoshimuri’s clan are the true practitioners of the craft.  Gen is a demon who works with humans against his kind.  He is powerful, but is not trusted by many because of his nature.  Every battle against another demon risks unleashing the monster within, and if that happens, Gen is in for a very bad time. 

In Volume 9, Gen has had a narrow escape with his demon side, and is now living on a kind of probation for his troubles.  The whole team is in trouble, though, because their inability to co-ordinate effectively against the ayakashi (demons) is placing them all in greater danger.  Enter Atora, Gen’s sensei and a playful new character in this story.  With her dog-demon at her side, she trains the team to work more effectively, and just in time.  In other events, the demons are planning new assaults and are sending alarming signals to the kekkaishi through, among other things, draining a swamp in search of a powerful being.  A titanic clash is imminent, and the first blows are struck when the ayakashi go after a spy in their midst, and Gen is tormented about his nature by another of their ranks.  Old alliances are strained in the face of new adversities, and it is clear that not everyone is going to get out of this alive.

This volume maintains a swift pace and a fine blend of action and mystery.  The characters are even more engaging than ever, and the pacing is such that you as the reader will be easily swept up in the momentum of the work.  Lacking the experience of reading the first seven volumes, this reviewer must admit that such is the pleasure had from the last two published editions in this series, a heartfelt recommendation to all to read this series from the beginning is strongly advised.  This story is really enjoyable, and easy enough to follow, but it seems wrong to simply jump in so late in the tale and not explore how the dynamics of the character relationships emerged.  As in Volume 8, the artwork is cleanly drawn, especially in the action scenes.  Thus it is possible for readers to follow the dynamics of the combat without being assaulted by fancy manga drawing tricks and wild sound effects.  There is enough humor to balance the darker aspects of the story, and enough tension to keep the pages turning at a very fast rate.   

IN SUMMARY:
KEKKAISHI Volume 9 ramps up the dynamic devilry to whole new levels as demons and hunters make their opening moves in a classic battle of good versus evil.  Can our heroes battle their own insecurities, the horrific nature of one of their members and the combined forces of darkness as the end draws near?  The chase is on.  The battle is joined, and the only one missing from the field is you.