The Mermaid's Saga, Cover art

Is it true that if you eat the flesh of a mermaid that you get eternal youth, and immortality? Is it true that the ashes of a mermaid will make even the most delicate flower thrive throughout the year? Is it true that only one in a thousand people who eat the flesh of a Mermaid survive? Is it true that the rest become a souless demon, who roams the world killing people?

In the delightfully presented Japan that Rumiko Takahashi takes you to in this series, it just so happens that it is true, and not just an ancient folk legend.

These stories revolve around a young man by the name of Yuta, who once did find a mermaid and ate of it's flesh. That was some 500 years ago. Now Yota is on a quest to find a Mermaid, and see if they know if there is a way a man can become human again. 500 years alone is a long time for lost love, and the pain of knowing that you will out-live everybody around you.

On one of his adventures, he vetutures to a remote region of a mountain area by the ocean, only to find a village completely cut off from the outside world. Who are these women that tend the young girl? Why can't the young girl walk? Did she too eat the flesh of a Mermaid and survive?

You'll see..

Below is the cover art of the 3 collected volumes of her work. I do not beleive there is any more works in this series unfortunately. These introduce what seems to be the more serious side to Rumiko Takahashi's work (as against Ranma 1/2 or Maison Ikoku, which have a definate degree of humor to them). They are a beautiful read, and well worth tracking down, even if they are only short.

Mermaid Forest
	Mermaid's Scar
		Mermaid's Gaze