The idea behind this manga seems good. Guy with strong spiritual powers trapped in the body of a cat, and girl with strong spiritual powers is the only one who can help him find his body and return to it. I do, however, find the girl lead rather unbearable.

Cat: Don't throw me out! I'm the only one who can save you from the evil spirit in your house.
Girl: I'm not listening la la la la...gyaa! The evil spirit caught me! Save me!

Cat: Don't leave me behind! We need to stick together!
Girl: I'm a big girl! I can handle myself...gyaa! I got into trouble! Save me!

Cat: No! Don't go there/follow him! It's dangerous!
Girl: Don't tell me what to do!...gyaa! the guy's a bad guy! Save me!

Understandable this is shoujo manga, and it's the usual cliche of strong male lead protecting damsel female lead, but this female lead in particular doesn't get herself into trouble. She pretty much throws herself at trouble, and expects the male lead to save her without showing any form of gratitude to him afterwards (until later chapters, but then again, romance is already involved by then). There are only so many chapters of the same trope being used before the female lead really wears readers out.

That ending really sucked. No closure at all. Also, why were all these random spirites trying to kill them? It just made no sense at all. Nothing ever developed at all. If I was a 6th grader, I would like this, but i'm not so I dont.

The plot by itself was okay-the initial part, that is. Where random spirits try to kill both of them and all...but as the story went on, nothing really developed. The plot turned into evil-spirit-tries-to-kill-them-cuz-they-can-destroy-it one, the romance was just...presented to you, and there wasn't enough explanation. Why was the spirit trying to kill them-or, why did it know of the Ying Yang thing where they can destroy it? And of all things, 12 and 13? The romance too, was just flat. There wasn't much development-Taku kisses Ryouko, finds out their power is amplified whilst doing so, and Ryouko realizes she's in love with Taku. It would have been nice to see how her classmates were affected by her spiritual problems-it gives the story more depth.

When Taku and Ryouko were fighting the spirit in the last chapter, or rather, all action scenes, were so fast! Or rather, it was so...boring. They overpower the spirit, seal it. In a chapter. At least the final battle should be longer...when Ryouko was trying to save Taku was like, 3 chapters longer. This story is severely lacking in action-which is important cuz it gives the story a sense of urgency and impact. Overall the story was kinda flat and boring, though the dead bodies at the start kinda made up for it

Btw...what happened to Ryouko's dad?! Did they put him to rest?!

I liked the initial chapters, but it got worse progressively. Ryouko and Taku were both very unsavoury characters. Ryouko comes out as a very superficial and self absorbed girl. She keeps procrastinating to find Taku's body but expects his full help, no matter what the situation. That would be all fine if it was only for a few months, I suppose. but for a year and a half? That's stretching it a bit. The characters don't develop. They just exist on the pages of this manga and no one would ever spare them a thought.

I would have liked this story better without the romance aspect of it Their relationship does not blossom, rather it is sprung at the reader as a fact. Is it necessary to have the protagonists end up together? Ryouko's casebook could have fared better without it.

The plot itself was also very shaky. The reason why Ryouko is able to feel spirits is unrevealed. Ryouko and Taku kiss(why kiss?) each time to unleash an amazing power which saves them from all the dangerous situations. Nero's(or whatever his actual name is) apparent enmity against the couple is also because of a mysterious reason which the mangaka chooses to not disclose, except for spouting some rubbish about how 12 defeats 13. And let's not even get to how Taku is able to teleport in his cat body but not as a human.

While I wouldn't classify this as a wonderful read, it may interest readers who don't pay much attention to character development and some inconsistencies in plot.

I recommend this series to be read. I loved it! The characters are lovely, and the spirits actually freaked me out at times. The events that happened when they encountered spirits weren't like they can be purified or they find peace to move on. Some of these spirits got people to die, and the persistence is amazing. This is a wonderful read, it shouldn't really bore anyone but if it does than it does, it certantly doesn't bore me.

... Last updated on February 18th, 2011, 4:47pm

In my opinion, the best of Shinohara's work. It's interesting, good plot and characters and it has nice art (not overcomplicated as some shoujo manga's become), if you liked red river or other works from this mangaka, you'd like this, also perhaps if you liked Ghost Hunt, this is a good fix, but a great manga in it's own right!
(Also if you like cats <3)