Welcome back to another recap of Fushigi Yugi! In this volume we learn why Tamahome & Miaka are the best ever for each other (neither knows the meaning of the word "hostage"), that Hotohori is NOT above forcing his kisses on a girl who just found out that her love of life sacrificed himself for their cause, that there are apparently demons in this world...? and gosh I forgot Mitsukake existed at all (he's doesn't fall in love with Miaka after all).

Catching up in the territories:

Over in Qu-dong:
Oh also Yui may have a few lingering doubts about letting Miaka die (maybe? she was trying hard to talk herself out of them) and Nakago REALLY likes whipping hot guys chained up (which is just so wrong since he's like...20-something and Tama baby is only 17).

Over in Hong-nan:
Chichiri just can't mimic the innate gorgeousness of Hotohori to perfection. Literally that's all that's happening in a country on the brink of war.

Amazingly enough I really enjoyed this volume! Mostly because Tasuki shows up and he's all brash and conceited and apparently that's kind of a thing for me. Tasuki is very...larger than life (jumps into fights, hot headed, temper), but believes in his own innate strength. He doesn't let anyone's opinion get him down. I admire that a lot. Plus him and Nuriko eventually get along like besties. Which I love.

I really am getting a little tired of Yui's feud with Miaka though. I'm sorry. Look I understand that Yui (mistakenly) believes that she was raped and Nakago saved her and that its all Miaka's fault that it happened because Miaka didn't arrive in time. Then to find out that Miaka - who was genuinely there to save her, but got a bit sidetracked by DESTINY - had gotten the guy Yui had placed on a pedestal of unbelievable Greatness...well yes okay that sucks. And Nakago is manipulating her pretty hard core for his own reasons. But to talk yourself into being okay with your former best friend dying from a horrible disease? REALLY THOUGH?

This feud continues for at least another ten volumes I think so I should probably just learn to accept it.

Mitsukake is one of the Warriors who didn't make much of an impression on me and who I just barely appreciate now. He's older then the others (mid-20s?), not particularly bishie, has a reactive power (healing) and is quiet. I mostly remember him because of his cat (which Chichiri more or less later adopts so). His non-entity is really only seconded by Chiriko who is REALLY just sort of THERE after the initial introduction of drama.

I do find it awfully interesting that none of Miaka's other Seven are female. Genbu, Seiryu and Byakko all have females as part of their retinue and while Nuriko identifies as female, she also sort of starts edging back towards male the further into the series we go (though she refrains from gender identifying herself beyond "if I had been born female"). Also why does Seiryu have all the creepy people? Genbu I think also has someone kind of not completely human, but no one near the level of those we see later in Seiryu's retinue.

Oh dear lord I just realized what the next volume is about smh


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