TOP MANGA OF THE MONTH

Set in feudal-era Japan, Yorube Naki Mono centers around prostitutes, assassins, and the grimier sides of city life. One night, a mysterious young man named Shikon is introduced as the newest member of Saiga's group of assassins for hire. Shikon is outgoing and flirtatious, but Saiga can sense there's more to Shikon than he lets on... A chance encounter on a moonlit night leads to two destinies awakening.

From Nakama: Handsome, good at sports and academics, the archery club leader, Inui has a secret. He is lovers with a kouhai named Koumo Chiharu (M). Not only that, but Chiharu is a splitting image of the "Magical Girl Mamirin" from Inui's favourite anime. And underneath the seriousness and reputation, Inui is actually an otaku. One day Inui wisened up. Chiharu's existence has had more and more of an impact on his life. Who does he love more, Mamirin or Chiharu? It's the competition between love and moe. Which direction will Inui's great struggle be headed? (chapter 8 includes the Aoi x Tomoyuki from 'Yome ni konai ka' volume 2)

Iriya Tetsuo was the nice, quiet kid that everybody knows. Until well-meant prodding on the part of Hanada Satoshi made him choose the 'easy' way out. He purposely failed the entrance exam to a good school, and picked fights so that he wouldn't have to be around Hanada anymore. The last thing he expected or wanted was for strong-willed Kizu Ryouji to show any interest in him. The sparks fly between the two, while Iriya's best friend Kasuga Ryouta watches jealously... Side Story: Hikone A 64-page short story on Hikone's (Kizu's friend) past. We finally see behind his jokester exterior, and into his private life. In middle school he was on a reckless path to self-destruction, toying with the biker teams (gangs). And one day, he attacked the wrong team. Now their leader Takasu will teach Hikone a lesson he will never forget. (~from translated-treasures)

The beautiful vampire with long, silver hair Daia never attacked a human. He is constantly being watched by Kuro, a vampire hunter, and, because of this, he is always trying to run away. He eventually ends up in Japan and meet a merchant named Shishou, who then gives him a job and a place to stay. Daia is charmed by Shishou's kindness... Daia, who was always alone, starts to think about to drink Shishou's blood and make him a vampire as well. (Summary by BL Scanlations)

From The Pink Panzer: Partners was first written 15 years ago, although it has been re-printed several times since then. It's a ground-breaking classic, in the sense that it's the very first manga to realistically depict the gay S&M scene. Set in New York in the late 1980s, Partners follows the lives of six close friends who also happen to be leathermen. The manga depicts their relationships -- both sexual and emotional -- with unabashed honesty. While the story practically explodes off the page with a continuous, unremitting and glorious parade of smut, it isn't "meaningless sex" -- these are committed couples in full-time relationships, where pleasure and pain are natural expressions of affection for one another. (You guessed it; that's where the manga's name comes from. They're "partners.") The six friends that star in this manga are split up into three pairs. The main pair consists of Marlon and Doug, around whose relationship the manga revolves. Marlon, a high-flying executive, plays sub and devoted masochist to the beautifully dominant Doug. Doug is, interestingly enough, a janitor at the very company Marlon directs; during the average workday, they barely even make eye-contact. The contrast between their private and public lives is as stark as it is lovely. The other couples also feature in major roles, and what we end up with is an intimate and moving glimpse at an otherwise unconventional lifestyle. Be warned -- these aren't willowy bishounen clasping each other in slender arms! These are very real, very authentic male bodies bending and contorting in well-established ways. If beefy shoulders and leather chaps don't do it for you, you might be in for a bit of a shock!

Summary from Fantasyshrine: Keigo and Gunji are both stubborn and prideful men who didn't realize their mutual love for each other until years later when both ended up in the same hot spring together... with their kids!? Will they come to terms with their feelings for each other?

A kingdom's ruling faction sends out a secret agent to find the kingdom's missing prince. Love begins to grow between the missing prince and the agent sent to find him but political intrigue intervenes upon their arrival in the kingdom.

Due to unexpected events, Sakaki ends up being Yuki's "customer" and he's touched by Sakaki's words... but after discovering that a sweet fleeting kiss was just a game, what will Yuki do? Never fear; keep strong and keep believing! A love battle showdown between a yakuza and his wife! (Includes unreleased pages.) Loosely connected to 'Twin's Labyrinth'. The final chapter "Love go-round" also invovles Rin and Ayumu from 'Twin's Labyrinth'.

Collection of oneshots that largely revolve around the Hadano brothers. 1) Sudden Love 2) Us From Now On - Younger brother Hadano Takeru from chapter one is dating fellow student Isehara. But Isehara has a secret that involves Takeru's older brother Hikaru. 3) Sudden Appearance - Kousaka sensei and Hikaru get freaky on the beach. 4) Infinite Sensation Supplement - Masamichi is the personal doctor of the Setoyama family and must obey Tadasuki the young head of the family. But when Tadasuki wants his young cousin Asuma to be "prepared for love", Masamichi finds the task may be more than he can handle. 4a) People of the Hadano Household (2 page extra) - Youngest Hadano brother, Kaoru, attempts to introduce readers to the mysterious eldest Hadano brother, Satoru. 5) One Day, An Angel Flutters Down - Gifted at almost everything, Komadori still hasn't recovered from his failure of capturing a girl's heart due to his inability to express feelings. Ren, a gorgeous actor, helps him to learn the language of love. - Attractive Fascinante

(1-2) Kagami and Fukamachi are two friends who both secretly love each other, but the other doesn't know it. Then one day, Kagami tells Fukamachi that he's in love with his sister- in which Fukamachi then reluctantly decides to introduce his sister to Kagami. Now Kagami is faced with showing Fukamachi how he feels before he's forced to go out with a girl he doesn't love... (3) Kyouya, a socially awkward college student has trouble smiling and gets bullied at school. What happens when he stumbles into Akira (a high school student) when he's out drinking? (4) Kyouya (not from chapter 3) is in love with Shirou, his business partner, but Shirou already has a lover?! ~Mangaupdates.com

From Storm in Heaven: Twenty-nine-year-old Mikita Ryuuji has been hiding his love for his friend Koya for so long that he can't take it anymore. At his wit's end, he spends one night with Sudo, a man he met at a bar. It was supposed to be a one-night stand, an event he'd forget about the next day with someone he'd never see again. But when Sudo does show up again, this time determined to stay for good, Mikita's life starts to fall apart...

From Loveless: The protectors of a certain fox deity shrine happen to be Unka, an overly-serious red fox with a low social status, and Aura, a delinquent, pure-bred white fox. Can Unka, who is unable to express himself honestly, and Aura, who always goes all-out to get what he wants, really fall in love!? For another adult animal-eared series, check out the postscript at the end...

From The Moon in a Box: Shinoda is still reeling from the sudden separation from his wife when one evening he's lured into a peculiar little shop by the smell of coffee. There, Asukura, the shop's proprietor, converses with him about the beauty and usefulness of broken things. Despite himself, Shinoda keeps coming back for coffee... and conversation.

After his mother deserted them, senior high school student, Reo was living together with his mother's stern ex-lover, the very imposing uncle Shuuji. But 2 months ago, as he dropped by his home on his way with a friend one evening, an event occurred that changed their relationship forever. Since the day his uncle forcibly embraced him, the man demands his body time and again and Reo who has been suffering ever since seeks his close friend Kenta’s advice but… Contains another short story: Pretty After ~ After

From Fantasyshrine: Chapters 1-2: The Pure Merman ~ Pg. 14-56 The Pure Merman -A Present For You ~ Pg. 58-82 The merman Sango couldn’t help but falling in love with President Minami, who had implicit trust in him. However, not only did they have a huge status difference, they were different in species! To make things worse, mer-people must not lie… unless they wanted to be turned into bubbles… Chapter 3: Hercules? Hercules! ~ Pg. 85-100 All Hercules ever wanted was to stay with Keita forever, but the problem is... he's a bug. Chapter 4: The White Snake & The Prince ~ Pg. 102-109 Shiro(white) the white snake was shunned by the other snakes because of his colour, but he's finally found by his 'prince' a.k.a Hachiohji Takuma, nicknamed Ohji (prince). Chapter 5: Shiro and Ohji-sama ~ Extra Story - Pg. 111-114 Chapter 6: BUSTED! The Ombudsman Club!~ Pg. 6-21 Chapter 7: Shall We Study? ~ Pg. 23-46 Chapter 8: Found Love With You ~ Pg. 48-79

Sequel to the novel River's End. Yorozu Shirosaki is a normal highschooler, following the normal routine of studying to stay at school on scholarship, and sometimes help out running the love hotel left to his family by his deceased father. Yozoru was told by his father that love hotels are to "nuture love. and love wins over everything". Yozoru was content with his life and aspiring to one day run his own love hotel, but then he meets Togame, an AV director, who throws his everyday life for a spin...

Licensed.... This time focusing on the two elder brothers of Kenzou Honda... Shouichi Honda goes to the Asian imported product shop to collect the tax. There he happens to meet an importer, his younger brother, Junji who had run away from home. When Shouichi returns home, Junji is already there having a card game with their parents. They realize how their feelings have not changed since they made love only once 10 years ago. Relaited story: Close the Last Door: Saigo no Door wo Shimero Included is an extra side story.

From SP: Fuyuki, a former anti-terrorist agent is now hired as a bodyguard for the handsome and wealthy Kagami, the head of a large corporation. However, Kagami continually pursues to be the love interest of Fuyuki but to no avail. hilarious results ensue as Fuyuki attempts to resist him at every turn.

[from Fantasy Shrine:] Amano Kaguya, a blind incense maker, is approached by Igarashi Jin, a hotel manager, to create some complex combinational incenses for his hotel. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, he finds out that Jin is also the son of the man responsible for the deaths of his parents and his blindness. To make matters even more complicated, Kaguya recognizes Jin’s scent as the boy he fell in love with during childhood. Under the strong assault of Jin’s male scent, the confused Kaguya can’t seem to resist Jin’s forceful advances. Will Kaguya lose both his heart and body this time?

From Nakama: Every day, high school student Hanamura Oyoshi is challenged in his part-time job as a helper for the aged. But one day - suddenly - a request comes from Sadamitsu Norihiko, an heir to a large enterprise, for a helper for someone recovering from sickness. From the first day, a bewildered Naoyoshi swears obedience, but their attraction is immediate, and the two share a kiss. But, suddenly, communication comes to a halt and they're no longer able to meet, and when they do meet again, Norihiko has completely changed into another person. A heart-trembling, sensitive love story!

1-2) Yaasu has psychic powers, and recently it seems, a spirit has possessed his body for the purpose of confessing to Yuuma's childhood friend, Ritsu. Before leaving this world, the spirit would like to spend the night with Ritsu. Will Yuuma agree? If Yuuma crawls into Ritsu's bed, will Ritsu accept him? And when all is said and done, why does this spirit now have legs? 3-4) What's an uke to do when his 79-year old grandpa, who is a mad scientist, creates a pill that can make him look 29? And the reason for looking young again - to go after his grandson's boyfriend. Will Grandpa's groping and kidnapping finally get our couple to heat up the sheets? Or will grandpa get himself a new toy? 5-8) Some boy-love one-shots revolving around baseball, revenge, suppositories, and flower arranging.

Pediatric surgeon Nakamichi grapples with grief when his older lover, hospital director Tsutsumi, is critically ill following a stroke. His problems are compounded when the younger Tsutsumi, the director's son, begins working with him as a new intern. Tsutsumi junior dislikes Nakamichi on sight, and he soon reveals why: he knows all about his father's illicit affair with Nakamichi.

An one-off side story of Tokumaru Madoka and Hasune Kazuma, the main couple of Koi Cha no Osahou (Tea for Two) A comedy in a love hotel room.

Sequel to: SUKI DAKEDO! Nagato Aoba enters the student council after much effort and heartache (Suki Dakedo!) but at what cost? Not liked by the rest of the council, incessantly pursued by Yura, and a hidden relationship with Maki, seems like enough trouble, but... is there more looming his way? You bet it is! Watch out Aoba!! Enter After School Men's Harem survival of the fittest!