Pavane for a Dead Girl
Pavane for a Dead Girl is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koge-Donbo. The manga began serialization in Mag Garden's magazine Monthly Comic Blade in July 2008. As of May 2011, seven volumes have been released.
Plot
Takenomaru Sagami is a violinist prodigy with a contract to fulfill. When he was 11 years old, Takenomaru contracted smallpox and became critically ill. Constantly feeling unwanted and hated throughout his life, he looked towards death as an escape. In his weak condition, he discovered hope in life from world-famous violinist and soldier Lieutenant Sagami, who encouraged him to learn the violin once he recovered from his illness. He told him music had nothing to do with race, which Takenomaru was used to seeing criticism for because of his foreign blood. Not long after finding his hope and purpose, Takenomaru stood before the entrance of death and made a contract with "an angel" in order to continue living. In exchange for being allowed to live and two other certain gifts he must sacrifice others by collecting the twelve Tears of Maria. Out of his resentment for the world, he agrees readily. Seven years later, at the music school where his foster father teaches, he pursues twelve girls to attain the jewels that represent each girl's feelings for him. He gives them each a brooch that changes color by the intensity feelings they have for him. Once they fall in love with him, the girls must face their death in order for Takenomaru to collect the Tear of Maria hidden in the girls’ hearts.Characters
;Takenomaru Sagami;Mr. Sagami
;Nakae Wakabayashi
;Nanao Kaga
;Misaki Kanda
;Rumoi Matsumae
;Chigusa Nakamura
;Hikari Hagi
;Mine Shimabara
Production
The series' title is derived from the piano piece Pavane pour une infante défunte by Maurice Ravel.Publication
Written and illustrated by Koge-Donbo, the series began serialization in Mag Garden's Monthly Comic Blade magazine on July 30, 2008. As of May 2011, the series' individual chapters have been collected into seven volumes.At San Diego Comic-Con 2010, Tokyopop announced that they licensed the series for English publication.