Tail of the Moon: Vol. 2

by Rinko Ueda

Synopsis
Usagi is the granddaughter of the leader of prestigious ninja village, but she's such a klutz that she's never made it out of the kiddie class. Frustrated with Usagi's lack of progress, her grandfather sends her to marry Lord Hanzo and have lots of ninja babies. But the lord has no interest in her or her childbearing potential!

Usagi's mission to bear Hanzo's child is not going well. The father of her future babies has no interest in her, and she has a beautiful, brilliant rival. In order to regroup, Usagi goes back to her home village, arriving just in time for the annual Ninja Games -- and the prize is a love potion! In order to win the race, Usagi agrees to team up with her ex-fiance Goemon... and then Hanzo drops by the village unannounced! Who will win in this game of love?

Review
So much happens in this volume. Usagi wins the love potion, and rightly gives it to Hanzo, because she wants him to be happy, even if he gives it to princess Sara (technically, I think that should be lady Sara, because she's not a Princess). I was touched by how selfless she is (even though she thinks she's being selfish(!)), that she didn't secretly try to give it to Hanzo to make him fall in love with her. I won't spoil what happens, but this event seems to change Hanzo's mind about Usagi, and he rescinds his "I'm never getting married" mantra, and agrees to marry either Usagi or Yuki if they can qualify as ninja. I'm not really sure what changed his mind, though. Perhaps he began to notice Usagi's cheerfulness and resiliency and it touched him.

I shouldn't give too much away, but Usagi finally does get noticed for her herbalism skills, and is offered what is likely a prestigious position, even if she doesn't see it that way. All she can think about is how now she won't become a ninja, and therefore can't marry Hanzo. Again, I know she's single-minded about her goal, but I can't help but think that someone with herbalism skills, and someone who's close to Tokugawa Ieyasu, would be a great asset to a ninja, but Usagi just doesn't think that way. I guess that is one thing she doesn't have is confidence in herself. It would probably be hard at this point, considering she's been told she's stupid and a failure her whole life.

Still, I laughed a lot during this volume and want to see where it goes, and how Usagi's and Hanzo's relationship develops.

Final thought: I'll keep collecting this series.