Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden, by Yuu Watase

Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 12 by Yuu Watase
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Although strongly connected to Fushigi Yugi, Genbu Kaiden manages to be a perfectly stand-alone story where natural associations to the older story are seldom popping up.
In this case, I believe that this prequel exceeds not only the reader expectations (since it has been written after the "sequel") but also the sequel itself.
Finally, the author is getting better in telling such stories: in 12 volumes one can read what happens to the Genbu's priestess without getting involved into too much unnecessary finery and the action doesn't lag in time repeating itself into some strange loop.
The last two volumes could have possibly be compacted in one, skipping some extra drama steps that seemed to me too forced, though.
The strongest points that made this reading endearing are a couple:
1)the presence of a great heroine (sometimes though, too much of an heroine too little of a real human being). A strong female character, Takiko, who is determinated, gentle, loving and grows out of her initial troubles. Sometimes a martyr, though, but possibly this is a trait that makes her perfect to be Genbu's priestess, afterall.
2)the love relationship between the two main characters, Takiko and Rimdo/Uruki. It is very beautifully depicted and, although it develops possibly a bit too fast, it is not the only moving force that makes the action go, but, even though it is central, it surrounds the action more than driving it.
Certainly, I might have been changing the end, if I would have been the mangaka, but I can't deny it somehow fits the plot.

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