Our group of travellers is still stuck on their first new world searching for Sakura's memories, and things are finally starting to get interesting. The people who live on this world each have guardian spirits, and they seem to spend an awful lot of time using these spirits to fight each other. While the concept of having their own personal "gods" is interesting, Clamp's choice to use them as battling beings cheapens the effect. Pokémon, Digimon, and about a dozen other series have done this already, and done it well. At least the grouop succeeded in getting the first feather/memory back to make Sakura wwake up. It's kind of heart-breaking, though, to see her wake up and not remembedr Sayoran, even though I know that everything works out for the best. ( )

I thought my heart would break when Sakura woke up and asked Who...Are You?"" ( )

My infatuation with this new series remains high in the second volume. The world travelers are now in the Hanshin Republic. Shogo, the owner of a special level (in other words, very powerful) kudan is impressed with Syaoran, and challenges him to a fight. The arrival of the police soon quells the competition, but Syaoran and the others learn afterwards that Mokona sensed a feather during the tussle. The confrontation has other side effects, as well. A rival gang hears about Shogo's compliment, and demands that Syaoran join his team instead. When Syaoran declines, stating that he has no interest in taking either side, the thug attacks him. This time, though, Kurogane steps in and unleashes his own kudan, a water dragon that looks exactly like the water spirit from the Magic Knights series. Of course, his kudan is special level also, and of course he easily demolishes the other guy.

Arashi helpfully tips them off to the fact that the feather must be in a kudan, since it abruptly appears and disappears. Before they can strategize how to lure the right kudan, their friend Masayoshi is kidnapped. He was the bystander that Syaoran saved earlier, and has been guiding them around the city ever since due to his admiration for Syaoran. Unfortunately, his companionship leads another powerful kudan user, Primera, to think that Masayoshi is Syaoran, and he is taken by mistake. The trio track him down, only to discover that Primera just wants Shogo's attention, and nabbing his new friend was the easiest way to get it. She decides to fight Syaoran to impress Shogo, but Fai steps in and reveals his kudan, the wind creature from Magic Knights. Need I say that his kudan is also special level? Fai can fly with his kudan, and displays his impressive combat abilities as he defeats Primera.

Yet Primera accomplishes her primary goal: drawing Shogo. He arrives, and asks Syaoran to finish their fight. Knowing they need to draw out the kudan so they can search for the feather, Syaoran agrees, and wields his kudan with impressive skill. Syaoran is winning the fight, but the damage from a clash between water and fire causes buildings around them to crumble, and Masayoshi and Primera are in danger. Masayoshi refuses to run away, wanting to be as strong as Syaoran, and suddenly his seemingly small and weak kudan balloons up into a giant to protect him, revealing a feather inside. Syaoran retrieves the feather, and when he brings it to Sakura, it is absorbed in her chest. She awakens! Sadly, Sakura looks at Syaoran without recognition and asks him who he is.

While this volume centered solely on their time in the Hanshin Republic, it was so captivating. I understand why the authors wanted to stay in that world for a considerable amount of time. The fight scenes were thrilling, the three main characters are awesome (and hot), and the side characters are equally fascinating. The moment when Sakura awakens, but doesn't remember Syaoran, is handled extremely well, and it grips the heart without being sentimental. Fai and Kurogane are more and more impressed with the boy. Although I am excited to see what new adventures await them, this first escapade is a promising beginning, and I am sad that the group will soon be leaving Hanshin. I am looking forward to the next adventure. ( )

As Syaoran and company further explore this new dimension in search of Sakura's memory feather they discover an interesting blend of the supernatural and super-technilogical. In particular the ending of this volume was a bit heartbreaking although beautifully done. As much as I love this storyline the density and confusion of the graphics, particularly during the fight scenes is a bit crowded for my taste. However, I have no intension of letting this stop me from reading further volumes. I would certainly recommend this manga for both boys and girls ages 12 and up. ( )