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Title:  Kekkaishi Vol 13

Author:  Yellow Tanabe

Publisher: Viz

ISBN:  9781421516896

Contain Spoilers

I don’t know what it is about Kekkaishi that I find so appealing, but it is fast becoming one of my favorite manga titles.  Every volume adds more depth to the characters.  This is really standard shounen action fare, but it’s presented in such a fun and engaging manner that I can’t help but get caught up in each new volume, and wish for more when I’m finished with the book.  I love how Yellow Tanabe gives her characters strengths and weaknesses, and then uses those traits to push the story along. 

This volume picks up with the battle between Yoshimori and Kaguro, and brings the Kokuboro story arc to its close.  As the action winds down, I was made to feel sympathy for many characters who I previously disliked.  Kaguro especially was a character I loved to hate, and who could blame me.  He was so deliciously evil, and each new appearance caused nothing but grief for Yoshimori.  Here, as his overconfidence in his ability to kill turns to a sense of disbelief at his impending defeat, I felt the slightest bit sorry for him.  He was too far gone to be reformed, but just for a moment, I hoped that Yoshimori would somehow reach Kaguro and cause a miracle to happen. 

I think the character who I empathized the most with was the Princess.  She was  a prisoner of the castle she created, and was treated like a fragile  possession by her followers.  Once powerful and full of the vigor of her magic, she slowly fades away, her strength having deserted her long ago.  As her world crumbles around her, only Byaku is there to serve her faithfully.  Even Masamori, realizing that she was fading away, is taken aback by the fall of such a powerful being.

When a chapter is entitled "Slap" and Tokine’s angry face is prominently featured, you kind of know what’s coming up.  While Yoshimori deserved the scolding he received from her, I found myself wincing as she displayed the power of her wrath.  Dude! That had to hurt.  A lot.  Good thing that he’s one tough cookie, because Tokine sure isn’t going to cut him any slack!

Grade: B