Saezuru is basically a story about two very different, broken people who find in each other something precious. They're both slowly fixing the other (and not through rough sex, as usually happens in yaoi). It's full of melancholy and sadness (especially if you include Yashiro's prequel), but out of all that filth and tainted emotion shines the purity of Doumeki and Yashiro's relationship. Doumeki would literally do anything for Yashiro, and sincerely, truly accepts and APPRECIATES Yashiro for who is. The masochist, the "public toilet," the yakuza boss, and, most of all, the kind, broken person underneath all of that, who has suffered so much--all of the facets of Yashiro are precious to Doumeki. It's so touching it nearly moves me to tears, because isn't that what we all want? Someone who loves us unconditionally, despite all of our issues.
Yashiro himself has got to be one of my favorite manga characters ever. His dark humor and unexpected tenderness (especially toward Doumeki), the depth of his heart (
that scene where he begged on Kage's behalf
), despite all of the horrific crap that he's been through--that's real strength of character. He never whines, complains, or cowers, even though basically anyone else would in his place. Unlike 99.9% of all the main characters in yaoi, the reader actually feels like he deserves the unfailing devotion (and more!) he receives.
Doumeki's presence in Yashiro's life is also slowly changing Yashiro. The scene when Yashiro comes back to Doumeki in the movie theater--argh. I'm never sappy about yaoi, but I have to admit that my heart throbbed in my chest. Yashiro opens up to Doumeki in a way that he obviously has never been able to before, and it makes you truly hopeful that one day, he will be happy. For someone whose whole life revolves around pain and sex, to meet the one person who would rather kill himself than cause you pain, and with whom you can't use sex as a barrier or a defense...man. They're made for each other.
I don't understand how people can say that this isn't a complex, psychological story. It is. It is incredibly touching, deep, and in my opinion, heartbreakingly sweet and tender, in an unexpected but profound way. I've never described a yaoi manga (or any manga at all) using that sort of language, but this one popped out of nowhere and smacked me hard in the face with its depth. I was truly moved by the relationship, and while I usually despise unrealistic happily ever after's, I find myself hoping that Yashiro and Doumeki get one.