Samurai Deeper Kyo, vol. 29 (Akimine Kamijyo)

[chomiji]

Kyo must face his old foe Oda Nobunaga, who now possesses the body of the shaman Nozumo. Nobunaga's skills with the sword and his deadly demonic attacks aren't the only dangers Kyo will face. But before the conflict can be resolved, Yuya interrupts the combatants and changes the stakes drastically.

The human element comes strongly to the forefront in this volume. Although the situation with Yuya is by far the most dramatic element, this installment also ends with Kyo farther from regaining his real body than ever, and Akari continues to have to face her past history with the Mibu.

And there simply isn't much more to say without risking major spoilers.

Samurai Deeper Kyo, vol. 29 (review)

Well, despite the fact that Yuya is not in my top 5 characters for this series (maybe she makes the top 10, but I'd have to think about it), she is pretty much the most important character in this segment.

OK, Yuya's a little reckless here. But seeing what appears to be your beloved brother engaged in deadly combat against the man you've just realized you love is probably something that would drive any thoughts of caution out of the head of just about any 16-yr-old girl. It's easy to forget, sometimes, in a world of youthful-looking manga characters, that Yuya really is just a teenager. So she loses it and steps between two implacable foes.

And Nobunaga, infuriated that Nozomu had once again asserted his control over his body, attacks her with both his sword and one of his magical death attacks.

Don't you love Kyo's initial reaction? He growls at her for acting without thinking. And then he loses it entirely - just in case we had any illusions that what Yuya's feeling is one-sided.

I also have to love Akari here. I'd definitely want her at my side in any fantasy adventure. She gets right down to healing Yuya here - no fussing over Kyo, even though he's not in great shape. And we were earlier reminded, in the flashback about Kyo's wanting to rule Japan, how much of a hopeless crush she has on Kyo . She really has a great heart.

And then we get the whole sad, awful, twisted situation with Kyoushirou - first persuading the Aka no Ou (the former Crimson King ... that creep ... I wonder how he and Hazel from Saiyuki would get along ... ?) to give him Kyo's real body, then allowing Kyo to have it for the fight against Nobunaga - and then taking both Yuya and Kyo's real body at the end, and declaring himself the heir presumptive of the Mibu. Eeeek!

I get the shivers thinking about how Kyo must have felt, first with all of his powers at his disposal once more, and then - once again - trapped in Kyoushirou's body. And remember that these guys used to be friends (and maybe more ... ). Does anyone remember, early on, when Kyo at one point bitterly confronted Yuya about her belief in Kyoushirou? Honestly, even though he is a foul-mouthed, boob-grabbing badass, my heart is sore for Demon-Eyes.

Anyway, this was a really superior angst-fest. it's amazing how complex the whole situation has become.

Comments

[avierra.livejournal.com]

I need to talk to the comic book store guy and get this on subscription. How many volumes are there?

[chomiji]

Heh heh heh ... more people reading SDK!

There are 38 volumes, so if Tokyopop can keep up the current schedule (bimonthly), things should wrap up in January 2010. The next two volumes seem to be on schedule, according to Amazon.

I'll warn you that this is a slow start - the first two volumes are pretty bad (although smillaraaq, who's read a lot more manga than I have, says they're just pretty average shounen). It isn't until the actual historical figures (or their AU versions, strictly speaking ... no, Oda Nobunaga was not really a demonlord ...) show up and you begin to sense that the Fate of the World is in the balance that the series really takes off.

[sodapopgirl703.livejournal.com]

There was so much angst! I really love Akari in this volume for the same reasons you do. She doesn't get upset over the blatant displays of affection between Kyo and Yuya and heals the half dead girl on the ground. Not that I had any doubts of her capacity to care for others (um, for being in the Shiseiten) but you really see it here.

And I often have to remind myself that Yuya is only sixteen. She sometimes says things beyond her age but her actions are typically that of a teenager.

[chomiji]

Yuya does wax philosophical every once in a while, but not beyond the "out of the mouths of babes" that occurs in mainstream fiction from time to time as well!

I keep biting my tongue to keep from saying more about certain things - especially Kyoushirou - I've got at least a couple of people on the f-list who, as far as I know, are only reading the English releases and not delving into the scans/scripts/scanlations.

Akari deserves a nice guy! (Well, she'd completely overwhelm a guy who was too nice ... but you know what I mean.)

[hikari-mibu.livejournal.com]

It must be frustraiting for Kyo, and now with Yuya's life on the line and the added weight of love too.
Kyo and Kyoshiro more then friends? Right.....
For Onime-no-Kyo? My heart used to beat for the demon, but now, it's caught between the Brothers Half (as I like to call them) ^^

[chomiji]

I imagine it's far more than frustrating. For many men, especially athletic ones, their bodies are themselves.

Well, I like Kyo a lot, even if he is quite the jerk. It's probably an age thing - Hotaru and even Shinrei seem much too young. (I think that's why Yukimura tends to be my POV character - he's older than most of them, and has family responsibilities - and is clearly crushing on Kyo.)

I think Yuya's confession forced Kyo to realize what his own feelings were as well. And now Kyoushirou is stealing both his body and the only person he loves.

Shinrei and Hotaru have their appeal, though. I like Shinrei's intense loyalty, even when it makes him blind. He is such an idealist. And Hotaru is such a wild child - he's completely unsocialized. He has no idea of how to interact with other human beings at all.

(The next book has tons of wonderful background info on Hotaru.)

[hikari-mibu.livejournal.com]

I know it has a lot on 'Taru-chan next, I've read scanlations. ^^

[chomiji]

Yes, it's going to be tons of fun!

(I've read 'em too!)

[(Anonymous)]

I think you are right and that is also the way I see thing. I think kyo should not give up just yet he should fight for his happines with yuya.
See yah Lova Ray

nothig

[(Anonymous)]

I think your right chomiji but then life has never been fair isn't that why Kyo is fighting to keep Yuya trough it hurts to see her in pain when he can protect her. Kyo will now fight for her with all his powers but will that be enoght.

[b3nitora.livejournal.com]

29 was a fabulous volume!!
cho-sama please add me to your friends! ^_^
*sad b3ni-chan*

[chomiji]

OK, b3n-chan - sorry about that.

:-(

could u help me maybe?

[(Anonymous)]

I don't know where to find the complete manga this is now my favorite of all time and i have no clue where to find it. so typical.

Re: could u help me maybe?

[chomiji]

I guess you mean "find them online" ... I like books to hold in my hand, so I bought them (except for the last few that haven't come out yet.)

MangaFox seem to have them. For the final few volumes (33-38), though, I'd encourage you to use Hana-mi.net instead, because sanada gives you so much more than just a translation/scanlation - she gives great little notes about language and culture too (and she's funny!).