Of Swords and Parasols

Does this still have a plot? I think it got lost amidst the shameless fanservice for time crossed romance and every bodyguard/princess kink and trope ever. Sometimes, I want a checklist. In the “Yes, that was cute the way you worked trope #365 in there. Let me wipe that bit of chocolate off your face, you cute wee thing you.” way.

This is the “ZOMG! Angsty reasons we can’t be together!” edition.

However!

( spoiler )

Beni is the heir of a very rich and very old Japanese family, which has resulted in many kidnappings during her life. During one of these kidnappings, a young man literally falls from the sky and knocks her off the roof. A ninja, he saves them and announces that he is Kagetora, a ninja sworn to protect Beni, who he calls Beni Hime. Thinking he’s a new bodyguard hired by her father, who she blames for her mother’s death, Beni takes him home, but soon learns he’s from the past and thinks he serves her ancestor, Beni, who really was a princess.

I’m pretty sure this manga exists purely to make sure it caters to every rich girl/bodyguard and ninja kink out there. He hangs from the ceiling in her classroom! He must be called off from overprotective tendencies! He is warned off by her father! She objects to this. He thinks going to school in samurai gear is less obtrusive than going in ninja gear! She tazers people to save them! He angsts much about forbidden love! She’d rather he got over that. There is also tripping over carpets resulting in being sprawled on the bed and accidentally kissing.

This manga is very devoted to its youth-friendly boy/girl fanservice.

I was uneasy about the mistaken identity part at first, but it gets resolved well by the end of the volume. There’s an ongoing joke regarding “loincloths” that I could do without, but it isn’t enough to really get in the way of my enjoyment. I can’t believe I’m going to say this (mark your calendar) but if these two ever grow up, get their acts together and stop angsting, this book will probably get dull. But the “Woes! Our love is kinda-not-really-forbidden and we are from different time periods!” bit is very entertaining for now.