Sleeps In Sunbeams's manga / #Past Life(2)

This story really lived up to its title in the beginning. There was rape and dub con and endless sex and I could sort of overlook a lot of the forced sex because we were dealing with demons. It’s just that there was little to no plot and character development when it’s just sex scene after sex scene. Ryoichi was such a weak seeming uke who sexually responded to anything (I still don’t see the need for that). It was all that irritating “no, no” while having some sort of body that was out of his control (and it wasn’t Yonosuke because he wanted positive outcomes) and endless remarks about falling pregnant (which never eventuates) and it all stagnated for me. I came so close to either dropping it or bookmarking and returning later (pretty much the same thing tbh). But then! Then it was like a different writer came on board. The actual story progressed and the author did a great job stirring pangs of empathy and sorrow for Yonosuke, and liking for Aroku as he softened towards Ryoichi and FINALLY some signs of Ryo being strong and loving enough to face the tough challenge of being a demons mate. The story was so good in the second half. I even got all teary over their time on Earth, that was so beautiful. Really, a lovely ending too. It would have been nice to see Ryo have a baby and watch Aroku be a dad (especially after the huge focus initially on him falling pregnant) but at least there were some panels at the end that let us see it would happen.

Retired mercenary Araki Kyosuke (42yo) returns to Japan to settle down for a quiet life. That was until he saved Lune Mimasaka, the corporate heir to a hugely successful business and current target of a ruthless business rival. When Lune and Kyousuke meet they are both swamped by the memories of themselves in a past life as husband and wife. Their current selves are swept by the memories of a love that will defy the ages.