Product Description

Kyo finally makes the decision to stop running from his fears and confront his birth father. But how will he react to his father's pressure to accept an unwanted truth? Meanwhile, as Akito's control over the Sohma family slips away, will the last vestiges of her sanity and reason slip away as well?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8048 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 216 pages

Customer Reviews

Goodbye
Out of the entire "Fruits Basket" series, the penultimate volume is the most important.

And the twenty-second volume is when Natsuki Takaya truly mingles transcendent love and joy with the bitterness of a troubled past. Assorted plot threads are quietly wrapped up in preparation for the grand finale, even as Takaya finally deals with the biggest problem that faces the Sohma family. Things will never be the same after this.

After years of bitter hatred and estrangement, Kyo finally has a messy, painful confrontation with his biological father, only to remember something about his mother's suicide and how she was driven to it. But his relief is short-lived -- Tohru thinks she's been rejected by him, and doesn't want to see him. Cue excessive teasing by Yuki, Arisa and Hana.

At the same time, Arisa grapples with her feelings for Kureno, and a repentant Akito arranges for the cursed Sohmas to gather in one week. And when Tohru is finally released from the hospital, Kyo pursues her across the town to tell her how he really feels about her. And their important meeting will change the Sohma clan forever... as well as the curse.

There are a lot of different changes in the twenty-second "Fruits Basket" -- at least one character's "happily ever after" is shown, surprising details of the curse are revealed, and the very heart of the Sohma family is changed forever. I won't say just what happens, except that it means that the series is really almost over, because there's few places left for it to go after what happens here.

And after many bleak chapters full of sadness, there's finally an even balance in these stories -- Takaya starts focusing on joy, uncertain love, and optimism as well as the sorrow and fear (especially Kyo's meditations on his late mother, and his feelings about her). There are some outright cute moments, such as Tohru's adorable reaction when Kyo reveals that this was their second kiss.

In fact, Kyo and Tohru experience some big changes in this volume. He finally faces his demons and his haunted past (including learning the REAL reason his mother committed suicide), and resolves to live for the future, while she struggles with her love and insecurities -- and the scene where they finally confess their feelings is beautifully awkward and heartfelt, as well as rather funny at times.

And the other characters are explored as well -- Akito's changing personality, her pain and fear, and her relationship with Shigure; Yuki gaining the strength to pursue his own love; Arisa finally connecting with Kureno.

The penultimate volume of "Fruits Basket" is a bittersweet experience -- bitter because it's almost over, and sweet on its own merits. And one more left to go...

The day breaks and the shadows flee away
Fruits Basket remains to date the only manga and anime that has ever brought me close to tears and this volume was no exception, except that this time, they were tears of joy. The series has become increasingly dark, to the point I feared that all Tohru's good work and the striving of the younger generation had been in vain.

But the beautiful ending that all FB fans have been hoping for, and feared would never come, has finally arrived. All the couples you have been rooting for? They get their happy ending! (Yes, even Uo and Kureno!) The curse? What curse?! This volume is full of a sense of achievement wrested from the hands of defeat and hard-earned happiness, and you will feel both by the end of reading it. But there's still one more to come...

A cat, a curse, and an onigiri
After having waited for what seemed like a lifetime for this volume to arrive, I was looking forward to finally reading it. From the moment I saw the adorable cover picture for the first chapter, I knew I was going to love it :).

The plot of this volume is a dramatic climax to the Sohma family's story, following especially Kyo's struggles to confront his past, and his feelings for Tohru. His determination and patience makes Kyo's reunion with Tohru all the more endearing. Takaya gives them the beginnings of the happy ending that we were all hoping for!

The book contains vivid and realistic emotions, cute moments for Uo & Kureno, Machi & Yuki, and even a sweet panel containing Akito & Shigure (which is definitely a first!). There is also a number of little humourous moments, bringing back to a certain extent, the lightheartedness of earlier volumes - including an interruption of a serious moment by Kimi =D. This volume also contains a brief explanation of the origins of the curse, and the original 'banquet'. While I had never thought this would be necessary, reading it was extremely satisfying, and gave the entire series more depth.

Furthermore, I was very impressed and indeed moved by the conclusion to this volume, and shed a tear for the first time whilst reading the series. I can't wait for the next volume, but will be sad to see it finish.