Kaiouki (spoilers up to vol. 37)
Well well well, Maia's grown herself a spine. I feel so savagely gratified about it! Sure, she had her depressed moment, and then she's got a whole new attitude. She's happy now, smiling a lot and talking a lot more. I can't understand what she's saying, but it seems quite thoughtful and wise. She also doesn't hang on every word Fan says anymore, or at least, he doesn't affect her mood as deeply as before. She actually can hold her own against Aguna now (Aguna is the new tough warrior girl who claims to be Fan's wife). It's great to see, but feels a little odd at the same time because it seems like Maia just got herself a whole new personality. Well, she's pulling a bit more of her weight and becoming more useful. I can't say no to that.
Noooooo, Jiiiiiiieeeeeennnn! *cries* T_____T This is what happened: Fan was invited onto his brother Sol's ship, Sol being the reigning Sea King after the race (unfairly, I might add, but it wasn't entirely his doing). As they sat and chat with phony smiles on their faces, Sol's right hand man, Ice Dagger, jumped down and tried to kill Fan, but Fan blocked with his sword. However, Sol took advantage of the moment to stab Fan in the stomach. As they both prepared to strike again, Lufa the eagle flew by and clawed at Ice's face, momentarily slowing him. It was barely enough time for Fan's crew to get to the ship. In desperation, Jien made the big guy (don't remember his name) throw him on board.
Jien yelled and jumped in to push Ice Dagger away, receiving a dagger in the back. He stubbornly held on while Ice Dagger continued to stab at his back and tried to dislodge him. Before he could stab a forth time, Aguna got onto the ship finally and thew her spear at him, killing him with a strike to the chest. Sol let go of Fan and they both ran to their respective men, cradling the dying two. Jien said some last words to Fan and died. Fan held him close and cried silently. Fan, his face dark, laid Jien down, stood up, and went over to Sol. He drew his sword and would have decapitated Sol if Nikka didn't shout out and stop him. They exchanged more words. Then Sol said something to Fan, tears on his face, and he cried loudly, cradling his closest friend.
By that time, the rest of the main crew, together with Maia and Sanoo, went the ship to see what's going on. Maia came on board and looked around. Everyone (except Aguna) is crying. The big guy and Nikka said something, and then Fan said something to Maia, his back to her and sword still raised. Maia replied something and cried, too. In the end, it was the old man who finally convinced Fan to lower his sword.
I really appreciate the close bonds the men in this series have, and for once I'm glad the fangirls didn't get their hands on this manga. I'd hate to see the camaraderie being tainted by being turned into excessive yaoi-ness. Yes, girls, I believe it's okay for a guy to cry over his friend's dead body loudly and holding him close. There's such a thing as deep friendship, and one that has been long established and tested over time to where the willingness to lose one's life for a friend is not even a question. Jien has always been devoted to Fan's cause and has a healthy amount of respect for his captain. Jien deserves every single freaking tear, gorramit! Jien, you won't be forgotten.
I was surprised when Fan asked for Maia's input as he stood over his brother's kneeling and crying figure . The person to stop Fan from doing it at first was Nikka (apparently that's the official Japanese name, and I'll be using it from now on), but Fan asked for Maia's opinion. I was touched, especially as it seemed that Maia said something concrete and meaningful.
At Jien's funeral, a lot was said. Maia also had a long speech to say. Everybody seemed to appreciate her words. I am just so thrilled with her newfound maturity. You go, girl!
Man, these guys forgive and forget fast, Sol and Fan, I mean. Or rather, they called a truce, and aren't trying to kill each other anymore. Fan still isn't happy with Sol, and I totally get that. We then find out that the three sisters who were Sol's comrades? The oldest one of them is his wife! And she's pregnant!! Wait, no, this is later on, but it's still true! And there's a hug! In any case, the middle sister, the one who tried to sabotage the race, now offers to come with Fan, since they just lost their best archer, since she's quite skilled herself. Fan's crew just gained another woman.
Then we finally see Mitasha (whose real name seems to be Mel, or something like that) and Sinta (or Vedai, possibly) again. Lots of things happened and new and old characters appeared, etc. More Fan 'n crew, and more old characters yada yada yada... (can you tell I have no clue what's going on?)
Fan went to meet up with Kanatsu and Yalu Leonis (I've really got to find out what their Japanese names really are), and Sariu (her name is right) was there, too. She was excited until Nikka, and then Aguna approached the scene. Her gawping at Aguna after she introduced herself and stood next to Fan was really funny. Poor Sariu, Aguna's too much for you. I rather think that Aguna flaunted the whole "wife" thing at Sariu and got her riled. Lots more stuff, talking and fighting. Kanatsu took advantage of the rain to fight the Luonatia forces since they can't use their bombs anymore. Oh no, a Shadow Man appeared! But he was stopped in his track by a cloaked figure! The Shadow Man ran away.
The figure threw the hood back to reveal and young and androgynous face. Yalu bowed. It's a she! Oh, and guess what? She's Fan's MOTHER!!! IT'S TRUE! Guess work and translation services had confirmed it! She looks like she's in her teens! *faints* (end of vol 34)
Lotsa stuff with vol 35's beginning, planning and talking and gathering troops and such. Fan and Kanatsu and Yalu talked strategy, and Maia and the archer girl came over with refreshment. Sariu noticed and pulled Maia aside. She seemed to say something about Aguna, but Maia answered calmly with a smile. Sariu seemed flabbergasted and turned away huffily. She said something crankily to Aguna, and whatever it was made Kanatsu spat out his drink and yelled her name while blushing. It's hilarious! XD
More teasing back and forth, and then Kanatsu said something to Fan with a sardonic expression, and Fan lost his smile while the three girls (Aguna, archer girl, and Maia) seemed surprised. Then everybody had something to say with huge grins on their faces while Fan pouted and actually BLUSHED a little. I was so delighted. The rest of the volume is more strategy and fighting. I can't understaaaaaaand. T_T Can you tell I'm completely fixated with the little romance and ignored the action?
Vol. 36 is all fighting, with ship burning involved by Fan's crewman Tuma (a guy who looks a bit like Sanoo without the facial hair; another of Fan's loyal team and a recurring guy). Nikka and Maia were worried that Tuma harmed himself while burning the enemy's fleet per Fan's order, but Fan appeared to reassure them and probably said something like "Believe in him," or something.
Vol. 37, last in my possession (tears), opened with more ship war, but this time Sanoo got to join the fray and swing his sword around. Maia had a moment of anxiety, probably about Tuma, where she shows a bit of her old insecurities, but Fan reminded her of her long speech and her strength(?). Scene changed to enemies fretting, and back to Fan again. Fan called Maia out from below deck (I recognize the characters of her name). Tuma is back! With a bandage over one eye, but otherwise seemed fine. He appeared to have lots of good news. Maia teared up and turned to run up to Fan and hugged him tight. Tuma pointed to himself in disbelief and said something probably along the line of, "But I'm the one who did the good thing, why are you hugging him?" XD Then the old man jumped in and gave Tuma a hug ("I'll give you your hug, you youngster.") while Tuma looked comically disgusted. LOL Aguna's fellow countryman who followed her to Fan's team hesitantly pointed to Maia's hugging Fan and asked Aguna something, probably, "Is that alright with you?" Aguna let it go.
That's a very long hug, Maia. So adorable!! And Tuma's "What about me?" face was priceless!
Onto more sober things. We're back to the enemy's people. More talk, and Fan's mother met up with them! We see Mitasha again, with a new outfit, serving tea to Fan's mother. The mother (it's so weird calling her this since she looks like a teenage boy, rather) talked at length to the white hair guy and heard something outside. It's Mitasha, and she seemed to have a raging headache. The mother laid her down on the couch while Mitasha kept mumbling equations and strange words in her fever. The white hair guy chose that moment to attack Fan's mother. They had a big fight, ending with the mother jumping out the window and walking away. Back to Fan, he sneezed (this is the second time where his mom is concerned), and a bit more talking. End of vol. 37 and my stash of Kaiouki.
I want the next one sooooooo bad. I found a Japanese blog of Kaiouki and tried translation services to get some details out of it, and it's so sketchy it might as well be useless. All I know is that the blogger hates Maia, but she seems to appear in the next volume often, so I don't care and I'm happy! Can't wait!