meganbmoore | Basara Vol 23 (Reply)

As tends to happen when series I love are coming to an end, I’ve been putting off reading the last few volumes. So it won’t end. Anyway…

I maintain facing your mentor in battle because he’s been sent to assassinate your Very Estranged girlfriend, and deliberately going in expecting to lose an arm just so you can kill him is kinda hard to top in the "loss of body part means love" department. Especially when you consider the fact that you and said girlfriend are leading opposing armies at the time doesn’t hurt. Also, giving a rousing speech to both armies to snap her out of her (very understandable, given the circumstances) stupor while you’re bleeding to death, what with the recent arm loss and all, helps…ESPECIALLY when you announce to both armies that you’re turning your army over to her. It’s hard to top an army as a make-up gift.

If this happens to make your evil father’s enthusiasts try to kill you. Don’t worry, it’s probably what she needs to snap out of it and save you. And hey, for once, the entire cast standing around going "WTF?" actually makes sense. And hey, she may even show her appreciation by, after the battle (while someone is finally patching you up) tenderly picking up the lost arm, stroking her cheek with the hand, and then giving the arm a burial. Also, if you two start automatically planning strategy together later, don’t be surprised by more staring at you like you’ve lost your minds.

Meanwhile, Ageha is still running around Kyoto as a masked assassin. Ape mask and cloak or no, the guy is about 6’4" and has a giant eye-patch…how hard is it to figure out? Shuri and Hayato do some bonding over Hayato killing Shuri’s best friend bit about 20 volumes back, and Asagi decides to try his hand at being Judas. Though I suspect pro-Tatara plotting on his part.