Fruits Basket, Vol. 23
by Natsuki Takaya
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Book Summary Information
Author: Natsuki TakayaIllustrator: Natsuki Takaya
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-07-06
ISBN: 1427808279
Number of pages: 210
Publisher: TokyoPop
Book Reviews of Fruits Basket, Vol. 23
Book Review: The final farewell
Summary: 5 Stars
The curse is broken, Kyo and Tohru have confessed their feelings at long last, and now it's time to say goodbye to the Sohmas and Co.
"Fruits Basket Volume 23" is a brilliant, bittersweet end to a stunning fantasy/comedy/romance manga series, and Natsuki Takaya avoids the more maudlin and Hallmarky overtones that the finale could have had. Instead she carefully wraps up the various plot threads, pairs off most of the cast, and caps it off with a gorgeous ending that leaves some of the story up to the imagination.
The formerly cursed Sohmas are called to a meeting with a newly feminized Akito, who is painfully changing into a new person as she finally accepts her love for Shigure. Turns out her new decisions have also alienated some people formerly loyal to her. And the loss of the curse has had some other effects on people's lives -- some of the former cursed Sohmas are suddenly more relaxed in their freedom, while others are unable to let go of their olds wounds and grudges.
Meanwhile, the high school is abuzz with Tohru and Kyo's new relationship, and Yuki and Kyo have stopped fighting altogether -- and just before graduation, Kyo reveals that he wants Tohru to come with him on a long trip. Yuki and Shigure's paths diverge from that of their friends as they start new lives with their new loves, and the other Sohmas also start new lives. It's not so much an end as it is the end of the curse, and the beginning of their real lives.
"Fruits Basket Volume 23" is basically all about the united path of the cursed Sohmas splitting off into many different paths -- some are going to college, some are getting married, some are departing on journeys, and others are just continuing as-is but with greater freedom. The main message seems to be that people must go their own way and make their own lives, but that they will never truly be apart from the people they love.
The first chapter is a pretty bittersweet one, as Akito finally deals with the last of her issues, but the stories that follow are just to tie up the loose ends. Not all the hanging threads are addressed (Momiji and his family aren't really dealt with), but most of them are. And to deal with the last of Kyo's melancholy, Takaya shows us a hauntingly lovely flashback to the day Kyoko died reveals what she meant to say to Kyo, and what happened after she died.
There's also loads of humor (just about any scene with Kyo, Saki and/or Uo is crammed with hilarity), a bit of sadness, and plenty of romance for almost everybody. It's also much lighter and more humorous than the last few volumes of "Fruits Basket," but there's still a bittersweet pang as you realize that the story of the Sohmas is about to finally end.
Takaya revisits all the Sohmas in the story -- many of them have changed (Momiji's pranks), but in many ways are still the same (Ayame's over-the-top real estate plans), and some of them haven't forgiven Akito for what she's done. But it's also obvious that the main characters have grown up immensely -- Kyo has become a strong young man who wants to forge a new life with the girl he loves, and Tohru has grown past her ditzy anxiety.
And just in case anyone wasn't totally satisfied, an epilogue shows what life is like for a few of the characters, about thirty years in the future. Takaya leaves most of their futures up to the imagination, but the continuing presence of the zodiac figures shows that they are never far from Tohru and Kyo.
The final volume of "Fruits Basket" is everything that made the series great -- overcoming the bitter past and seeking a brighter, happier future, with plenty of laughter and romance. A gorgeous must-read... then go back and read the series again.
Summary of Fruits Basket, Vol. 23
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, the curse continues to loosen its hold on the members of the Zodiac, but as Akito's control over the Sohma family slips away, will the last vestiges of her sanity and reason slip away, too? With Kureno injured and Tohru in peril, Akito has come to a crossroads...Manga Books
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