The story itself was ok, but… I'm really not a fan of animal x human. I thought that the beast would turn into human before anything like a kiss happens. Be aware that this is NOT the case. There is some (though thankfully not very explicitly drawn) sexual content while the beast looks like an animal. I wish I had known this before because I wouldn't have read the manga then.
If you don't feel repulsed by it, the rest seems like a nice/ok story. Some actions of a specific character seemed strange as if the author needed a scapegoat for stirring up the atmosphere. Most of the story was not something which stays in your mind for a long time because it was mainly about the relationship between the samurai and the beast. But it was an ok read. I would've given it a 5 or 6 if the author had left out the sexual content with the beast in animal form.