Manga Monday (30): Fruits Basket vol. 11 by Natsuki Takaya

Fruits Basket vol. 11 by Natsuki Takaya

Summary

While at the Sohma vacation home, Tohru is caught in a whirlwind of familial strife. Can she relax and put the "fun" in dysfunctional? None of the Sohmas are going to make it easy, including an angry horse that attacks Tohru. Could this be a new member of the Zodiac? Meanwhile, in a fierce argument with Akito, Kyo reveals his true feelings for Tohru. Will Akito tell Tohru about Kyo's secret crush? And speaking of secrets, Akito makes a major announcement--one that will reveal his true identity and change the Sohma family forever! (courtesy of Amazon)

Review

Fruits Basket volume 11 is a turning point for the series. It starts out where the tenth volume ended. Tohru and the Sohma family are spending their summer vacation at a cabin (or cabin-like place). Tohru is left alone much of the time as Akito demands the family's constant attention. Kyo, as the hated cat, is the only one who Akito does not want to see. He alone keeps Tohru company. Finally, even Kyo is summoned to Akito's presence and Tohru is totally alone.

In this volume we meet the final two members of the zodiac, the rooster and the horse. We don't see a lot of them, but I imagine they'll be fleshed out in later volumes.

We also get a vague understanding of who Akito is. I am more and more curious about Akito. He seems like such an awful, hateful figure. Manipulative, unfeeling, whiny, possessive, incapable of human positive feelings. I really wonder whether he is going to continue being presented this way or if we will come to understand or even sympathize with him. It's hard for me to imagine feeling anything but revulsion for Akito after seeing how cruelly he treats Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru. Another thing that confuses me about Akito: I assume that he's male, but sometimes he is so effeminate that I wonder if he's actually a girl. My husband said that Akito is generally a male name, so I assume he's a boy, but I'm not entirely sure.

Tohru makes an important decision at the conclusion of this volume. I assume it is going to be a leading theme for the rest of the series. In keeping with her nature, Tohru is maddeningly self-effacing and cheerful. She seems like a whisp of a person. But when the people she loves are threatened, she becomes as brave and daring as her Yanki mother. I think Tohru is really going to step up to the plate in future volumes, and I can't wait to see it.