You know, before the Internet ruined me for parties, I had no idea what 'breathplay' was. Ah, those halcyon days. If only I could erase my brain...

Reading Sand Chronicles while listening to Falsettoland at the same time is SO not recommended. Especially on a bus.

Reading Sand Chronicles in general is such an odd experience. I read Love Com, Special A, and B.O.D.Y, all of which are variations on the same theme, one of the most common shoujo themes - perky girl is stuck on broody guy who's mean to/teases her. They're well done, especially Love Com, but it's not especially original.

Sand Chronicles, though, is a totally different way of telling the shoujo love story, and still manages to surprise me. Admittedly, it's only 2 volumes in (I think it ended with 10 in Japan), but really, this is gripping stuff (as well as a bit emotional, oh yes).

Gatcha Gacha 7, meanwhile, the penultimate volume of the series, takes a break from Yuri and her boy troubles to focus on the best character in the manga, Motoko. We get a flashback to her junior high days, when her sister Kanako was still a hellraiser demon child, as well as current events where, well, Kanako is still being herself, but as many note, much less herself than before. We get resolution of the 'is Motoko really Japanese?' plot thread that's occasionally popped up. Some intriguing stuff left for the final volume, though, especially as Yuri starts to wonder just what her relationship with Motoko is.

Rain all day, heavy at times. BLEAH.