A review by reddyrat
Fruits Basket, Vol. 14 by Natsuki Takaya

3.0

Fruits Basket volume 14 has another big character study. It's Rin's turn. Like most of the members of the zodiac, she has had a horrific life. Her parents were repulsed by her. For years, they put on a happy show, but one day the switch just flipped and they made sure she understand how awful she was and how no one wanted her. But it turns out that one person did want her...Haru. They were in love. I love how Takaya drew them together. Full of passion and painful desperation to be together. Their relationship was short lived. Akito wouldn't stand for it. And as the god of the Sohma world, what Akito says goes. Rin is now haunted. She shuts out the world, because so no one will get close to her.

Leave it to Tohru to worm her way into someone's life who wants to be left alone. Tohru won't give up Rin. When Rin is in the hospital, Tohru insists on visiting her no matter how unwelcome Rin makes her feel. Tohru does this out of her innate goodness, but also because she recognizes that she and Rin have something in common. Rin wants to break the curse just as much as Tohru and appears to be the only Sohma member who is actively looking for a way to do it.

The rest of the volume is scenes from Yuki's student council meetings. I'm not a big fan of these meetings. They detract from the main plot and introduce lots of extra characters. It's getting to the point that I'm having trouble keeping track of people.

I missed Kyo in this volume. He hardly showed up at all. Volume 14 isn't my favorite, but it still develops the story.