In "Dream's End," an accident kills Yuta and Mana. When Yuta comes to, he is in an old man's hut in the forest and Mana is nowhere to be found. The man has devoted much of his life to hunting a monster what he calls Big Eyes -- a creature that the man says cannot be killed. Could it be a Lost Soul?

Meanwhile, Mana wakes up to find herself being held captive by a Lost Soul. But he hasn't completely lost his mind in the transformation, and he tells Mana the tragic story of the day he ate mermaid's flesh and rampaged through his village. Could this Lost Soul possibly be saved? She must decide whether to risk her life for him when Yuta and the old man come looking for her.

The Ash Princess
Original Japanese title: Sharihime (Bone princess)

In "The Ash Princess," set in ancient Japan, an old man sells what he claims is mermaid flesh. As proof, he parades around his daughter, Natsume, whose injuries heal almost instantly. But the girl has a gruesome secret -- she eats only livers, torn from animals and even humans while they're still alive.

A priest is trailing the father and daughter, and he seeks to kill Natsume. Yuta intervenes and saves her. Why is the priest after them? And what is the old man's secret as he hires himself out to rich families, claiming he can bring their children back from the dead?

Domestic printings: Mermaid's Dream, issue #1 (published 1994 by Viz, 30 pages). Contains "Dream's End." Mermaid's Dream, issue #2 (1995, 32 pages). Contains part 1 of "The Ash Princess." Mermaid's Dream, issue #3 (1995, 32 pages). Contains part 2 of "The Ash Princess." Mermaid's Scar graphic novel, with four complete stories Published 1995 by Viz ISBN: 1-56931-083-1; 304 pages Contains "Dream's End," "Mermaid's Promise," "Mermaid's Scar," and "The Ash Princess" Mermaid Saga vol. 2 graphic novel Published August 2004 in the original right-to-left format by Viz ISBN: 1-59116-484-2; about 186 pages Contains part 2 of "Mermaid Forest"; "Dream's End"; and "Mermaid's Promise" Mermaid Saga vol. 3 graphic novel Published October 2004 in the original right-to-left format by Viz ISBN: 1-59116-483-4; 170 pages Contains "Mermaid's Scar" and "The Ash Princess" Mermaid Saga vol. 4 graphic novel Published December 2004 in the original right-to-left format by Viz ISBN: 1-59116-482-6; 184 pages Contains "Mermaid's Gaze" and "Mermaid's Mask" Japanese printings: Shounen Sunday Yume no Owari (Dream's End), 5/18/88, #23 Sharihime (Bone princess), 6/15/92, #6 Ningyo no Kizu wide version: Collection of four complete Mermaid saga stories in a special anthology. Published 1993 by Shogakukan. 310 pages. ISBN: 4-09-121855-5 Contains "Yume no Owari," "Yakusoku no Ashita," "Ningyo no Kizu," and "Sharihime" Shonen Sunday Comics Special, "Yasha no Hitomi" (Eye of the demon): Reprinted collection of three complete stories. Published 1/15/2004 by Shogakukan ISBN: 1-56931-195-1; 250 pages Contains "Sharihime," "Yasha no Hitomi," and "Saigo no Kao" Shonen Sunday Comics Special, "Ningyo no Kizu": Reprinted collection of three complete Mermaid saga stories. Published 12/15/03 by Shogakukan. 237 pages. ISBN:4-09-127742-X Contains "Yume no Owari," "Yakusoku no Ashita," and "Ningyo no Kizu" Other printings: Mermaid Saga vol. 3 German edition Published 2002 by Egmont. about 138 pages. ISBN: 3-89885-325-X Contains "Ende des Traumes" (Dream's End) and "Mermaid's Promise" Mermaid Saga vol. 4 German edition Published 2002 by Egmont. about 172 pages. ISBN: 3-89885-326-8 Contains "Mermaid's Scar" and "Prinzessin aus der Asche" (The Ash Princess) Ren Yu Zhi Shang (Mermaid's Scar) (Ren Yu Xi Lie vol. 2) graphic novel Published 10/1/2005. 240 pages. ISBN: 7-5371-0214-7 Contains "Dream's End," "Mermaid's Promise," and "Mermaid's Scar" Ye Cha Zhi Tong (Mermaid's Gaze) (Ren Yu Xi Lie vol. 3) graphic novel Published 10/1/2005. 248 pages. ISBN: 7-5371-0215-5 Contains "The Ash Princess," "Mermaid's Gaze," and "Mermaid's Mask"