An unnamed man with a dark past and a willing prey is the typical cliche for vampire stories and it doesn't escape Akai Hana, which is a short story about two male lovers set in the Edo period of Japan. Shiki has lung cancer and his unnamed lover saves his life by turning him into a vampire. The story ends with them meeting in present day Japan. For a oneshot, it is a sad love story with a happy ending that readers can enjoy. Yet, it completely skips over what happens between Shiki becoming a vampire and meeting his lover in modern day Japan. Why did his lover ditch him after turning him into a vampire? And why is Shiki suddenly so happy to see this man? I know I wouldn't be very happy if my vampire lover, who supposedly loved me, just turned me into a vampire and left. Not to mention, this is considered "saving" him from death? The vampire just took his life away! He has to live forever in the same body drinking icky blood with no sunlight! How is that happy? And how does Shiki have college friends? Aren't they food? Wouldn't they notice how he can't go to classes during the day? Totally unrealistic! And where are the "crimson flowers"? There aren't even flowers! There was blood. I don't understand how a story can be named "crimson flowers" when they don't even make an appearance!
However, the art was very pretty. Both men were attractive and the clothes were drawn well. The steamy scenes were a nice touch and within a shorty amount of time I could feel for their situation. But instead of a "happy" ending Shiki should have died. I thought that would've been more believable. And the unnamed vampire can go back to being emo like most vampires. Maybe its my dislike for Twilght that makes me this cynnical to vampire stories? I just don't understand why they have to "look for a suitable partner" and be "moral" and constantly be annoyingly depressing. Thank you so much Anne Rice for creating that crappy Louis character in Interview with the Vampire. Not. I give this story a 3.1/10.
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