The plot of this show changes significantly after a few episodes. Firstly, a man called Train Heartnet works for an organization, named Chronos, whose members bear a Roman numeral on their body. He is number XIII, also known as Black Cat/Kuro Neko. Train is a highly praised member, who kills bad people with a gun (the same person from the beginning) in the name of Chronos, telling his victims right before their death that he "came to deliver bad luck." A man who has worked as an informant for years has never heard of a target escaping Heartnet. Train's friend, who wields a sword (the other individual at the start), applauds the former's talent, saying that only them two can strike a person at a fatal spot with one hit, and that Heartnet is subarashi (amazing). However, despite how cold he looks, he is actually tormented by his past and the guilt of single-handedly executing people. His next job is considered more difficult, and number XIII gets briefed by a woman, Sephiria. Sven, a sweeper, intends to arrest Lib Tyrant, a former gang lord who is running for office in Bracchio City and is about to marry his fiance, Joanna. After having alcohol spilled on him at a party for Lib, Sven goes to the bathroom to clean himself up, taking the patch over his eye off. Tyrant walks in with his bodyguards as well, and, with his vision eye, which can see five minutes into the future while draining his power, Sven is surprised to foresee Lib's death. . .
Based on the first episode alone, the story, I have to say, is intricate. This is not your dumb, weak kid trying to be strong; this is not your beat-them-up children's superhero; this is not your funny, clumsy newbie gaining experience; no, this is a serious boy who is not easy to mess with, who has a dark past, and who cries for those he murders and his parents.
Unfortunately, the opening sequence (and people's comments on the series) suggests a lighter mood later on. The lyrics are wonderful and the tune is nice, but I am not a big fan of the visuals, because I think they should be more gloomy/depressing. It shows small scenes of the important ones of the cast. Even less appropriate is the ending sequence, which starts off okay, but soon it becomes a joke of a song, having miniatures of the main characters turn into silly looking neko (cats), and sounding like something out of a Miyazaki movie.
So, yes, good story, check; fine animation, check; excellent seiyuu, check; comedy, check; drama, check; action, check; and adventure, check. I would compare this anime to Rurouni Kenshin and Ubel Blatt, in terms of a series containing a powerful, but sorrowful protagonist. Highly recommended.
