The stage is set when an innocent woman walking late at night is attacked outside a church, by what appears to be a vampire.

Konoe, Tatsumi, Watari, and GuShoShin discussed the latest string of murders which were characterized by the victims' loss of blood and vampire-esque marks on their neck. Konoe went to send Tsuzuki to investigate, but he was nowhere to be found.

In fact, Tsuzuki had snuck off to go get caramel creams and lost track of time. When he returned to the office his sweets were apprehended and he was forced to share with the others. After the caramel creams were all gone, Tsuzuki was sent on his way to investigate the case, being told a new partner would meet him there.

So everyone's favorite Shinigami with a sweet tooth headed down to Nagasaki along with GuShoShin, a temporary partner until his new one appeared, and it wasn't long before a scream led them to another victim; the vampire herself even put in an appearance. She escaped, but Tsuzuki followed, losing her trail when she ran into a church.

Someone else was in the church though, a man with silver hair clad all in white, who claimed to know nothing (but we all know he's lying, right? ^_~).

Tsuzuki's search lead him outdoors, but ended abruptly when he found himself with a gun to his back. Turning around to face his attacker he was surprised to see it was a young boy. The boy called him a vampire and was about to kill Tsuzuki when GuShoShin arrived and pointed out that the boy was Tsuzuki's new partner.

That evening Tsuzuki, GuShoShin, and his new partner Hisoka went out to celebrate. Hisoka was annoyed to discover that Tsuzuki wasn't the great Shinigami Konoe made him out to be, and a little fight over the remaining food ensued between Tsuzuki and Hisoka. The battle came to an interesting conclusion when Hisoka chased an overly spicy morsel with a glass of sake and promptly passed out.

Tsuzuki hauled his inebriated partner back to their hotel room, and when he turned on the news he was startled when he recognized the Chinese idol Maria Wong who was performing at the upcoming festival as the vampire!

The next morning he and his hung-over partner went to the station to check it out, and sure enough, Maria was about to take advantage of an innocent worker and the lovely blood pumping in his veins. Their arrival scared her off and as she fled a dragon appeared out of nowhere to attack the two unsuspecting Shinigami! Of course, by out of nowhere I mean Muraki was watching in the shadows and summoned it, since he's evil and all (go Muraki!). Tsuzuki summoned Suzaku who made quick work of the beastie.

Back in Meifu Tatsumi and Konoe informed Tsuzuki and Muraki of some rather startling news; Maria Wong had died quite some time ago. At the same time in Maria Wong's apartment, Muraki told her to be a good doll and do exactly what he said.

Thus ends episode one.

Comments: Sometimes the first few episodes of a series seem tedious to me, they're just the ones you watch to get to the really good episodes that follow. Yami No Matsuei was not one of those series. It starts out with vampires, creatures I have always loved stories about, and throw in that gorgeous scene with Muraki in the church and how on earth can I resist? Plus Hisoka is so adorable when he's drunk, and Tsuzuki is even more adorable when he's caring for a drunk Hisoka. Yes I am a drooling fangirl, deal with it.

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