otakulys's manga / #yaoi(378)

The way people were acting, I thought this was going to have a sad ending, but it was perfect! THIS is what I want. This is the hurt/comfort that I crave! Why can't there be more yaoi like this? Where the seme loves and protects his uke, and the harm comes from some other piece of crap? There's no force or rape to love or any of that garbage. Just real emotion. Plus, for me it's the psychology of trauma and the character working through it that draws me to violence and rape in manga, so it makes me sad that so often rape is romanticized or treated like a firm handshake. This was exactly what I was looking for. The beginning was a bit clumsy and rushed, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was very happy with where it went. I imagine people are freaking out because the rape was so graphic and the character actually had a realistic reaction to being assaulted, but the tags *did* say there was rape, and every chapter had a warning for violence, etc. So why are 90% of the comments people bitching about it? If you're a delicate person, skip stories that say that they contain violence and rape. At any rate, I really enjoyed this one, and it's the embodiment of my list, "Rape that Doesn't End in Love."

I actually really liked this for the most part. Not sure why people hated the uke so much. From the start it was clear that most of what he was doing was a defense mechanism. It broke my heart that he was so in love with Tsugitsugu like that, but it pisses me off a bit that they never addressed the fact that the rape and mark from the alpha was partly Tsugitsugu's fault. I know he thought he was doing what was best by leaving Kei, but why would he choose such an awful time? I couldn't get past that, and I feel like most people were hating on Kei and Ekihito more than anything. At any rate, I wish I could see the spin off of their kid growing up and falling in love with his friend. That was a cute little extra. I also wish someone would translate those first two pages. :( I should also add that there's a super messed up sex scene near the end. I mean, I guess that's a true sign of love if you can keep it up when the one you're banging is... doing that. Pretty crazy. I feel like it would catch a lot of people off guard. Not a pleasant surprise, haha.

It's a shame because the art is gorgeous, AND it isn't incest for freaking once. This mangaka loves that stuff. But it's seven pages, haha. Just a snapshot about how looks can be deceiving.

I actually kind of like the sinister nature of this, though even the lukewarm rape scene is indicative of the typical yaoi ending. Knowing that it'll mostly be easily forgiven torture and mistreatment, and the seme will face no real consequences for his actions, I can't justify spending money on this. Not when it'll just piss me off. So it's a shame that it's licensed. Oh well.

Aw, I want more! Only two chapters so far, but I like the art, and I like the way the character tries to pretend like he isn't there to help this kid. Though it's a bit of a contradiction that he won't let the girlfriend take important things of sentiment because he wants to be surrounded by his brother's stuff, but he told the thief he could take anything he wanted. Oh well, logic. But seriously, I hope this updates soon.

I understand why so many people are saying they felt unsatisfied with this manga. There's definitely something annoying about it. I feel like it would have been better if Kichou hadn't been so annoying and wishy washy all the time. At first, it made sense that he was doing things to protect Kagerou, but then he would lure him in and lead him on, then act like a dick, and all of it was supposedly because he loved him, but that didn't really add up overall. I hate how cocky and smug he was all the time. And of course the mildly rapey sex, all with that creepy smirk. So yeah, I'm annoyed, too. I wanted to really see Kichou suffer at some point and truly regret the way he handled things. I feel like I would have preferred an ending with Iwasaki getting what he wanted. But ultiimately, I am glad they have a happy ending. If I take out all the parts that annoy me, I really do like the concept of the story. Two boys, raised in a brothel, and their forbidden love--it was a recipe for a really good manga, and it could have been so much better. But it wasn't awful, and the translation was good. The art had weird moments but it was mostly rather beautiful. So 3.5 or so stars.

Wow, this is definitely twisted. What a messed up relationship. But I enjoyed the manga, and I really liked the parallels to the fairytale, The Red Shoes. It's a less literal approach to it, though it still maintains that concept of never being able to take the shoes off. In the fairytale, a huntsman has to cut off her feet to save her life, so I guess be happy that wasn't you, Yuriy. Lol Seriously, though, a lot of creepy sexism goes into shoe designs, if you dig into the history and concept. They look pretty on your legs, but they aren't good for you. I've had jobs where I was forced to wear heels, and it's not great. Anyway, Adam, you fucking sociopath. It started out seeming like Yuriy was the one in charge, arogant and confident sort, but that wasn't the case at all. The way Adam smiles all passive and calm, like nothing is happening, wtf. It's his own fault things go the way that they do, but I honestly feel like Adam wasn't punished enough for what he did. The ending came so quickly. I get that it was something major for what he likes to do, but I feel like Yuriy should have been killed. He treated him awfully and he doesn't deserve to have him in the end. That would have really crushed his spirit, and he deserves that. At any rate, the happily ever after doesn't seem fitting to the story, but it's sweet enough. The whole tale is pretty creepy and disturbing, though. Manipulative love to the most unhealthy degree. Also, did I miss something? What was the secret? That Yuriy whored himself out? I wasn't clear on that. I did like the history with the uncle and his rival, though. That was a nice little addition. I love when enemies turn out to have been involved, especially when there's still sexual tension there.

Huh. Okay. It does sort of seem like a game between them, but there's so much inner dialogue that I'm not sure. Seems like he's afraid of facing some part of himself, and he's realizing that he is indeed a masochist. But maybe something is lost in translation. I'm not sure. This was very short.

I wish there'd been more development in that first story, since it had potential, but the way it ended worked really well. Sick and wrong, haha. The other one was typical of darker yaoi, I'd say. Still, pretty messed up, even if the guy kinda had it coming.

"You're not an old man???" That... is that supposed to be a compliment? Does this guy look super wrinkly and decrepit and I'm just not seeing it? Anyway, this isn't bad. It could have been more powerful, but I did like the little parallel at the end. Not a fan of the older uke/younger seme thing, and an underage seme at that, but otherwise, it was all right.