▪	RELEASED BY:		DIGITAL MANGA PUBLISHING
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		SHINOBU GOTOH / SHOKO TAKAKU
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		200
		▪	RATING:		M
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		10/15/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		10/06/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

It’s been quite the wait but at last the final volume of Passion has arrived. Hikaru and Shima’s story comes to a close in this romance between a former student and the teacher he’s always loved. Both have doubts born from Nagisa’s meddling. Shima wonders if Hikaru has feelings for his co-worker while Hikaru wonders if Shima truly loves him. When Shima is emotionally threatened he pushes people away and just gives up. When Nagisa goes after Hikaru more forcefully, will Shima cut out the apathy and finally be a man to claim his younger lover once and for always?

Shima struggles with his life long habit of giving up. Meanwhile Nagisa is doing his best to stir up trouble, including rumors about Hikaru having an affair with a former teacher. He just doesn’t know which teacher yet. When he meets Shima, Nagisa just might put the pieces together. Nasty rumors going around the school and worries over losing Hikaru are causing Shima no end of stress. Not eating or sleeping, it’s bound to catch up with him. Can Hikaru figure out what’s going on in time?

With Shima so introverted and Hikaru so single-minded, these two have a lot of challenges to overcome as a couple. They both suffer a great deal of insecurity because of it. It is in this final volume that the two at last come to terms, at least to some extent, with these doubts and personal challengers. They also have to deal with Nagisa before things get too out of hand. The very last chapters deal with the aftermath of the climax to their story, with a touching moment involving two rings.

Passion has been a bit unusual for yaoi in that usually one of the men involved is confident and aggressive. Although Hikaru can be aggressive, it’s born out of insecure impulsivity rather than the usual expected ‘top’ behavior yaoi fans might expect. It’s made for much more of an equal relationship with this couple as they are both fairly even in terms of their flaws and insecurities. It’s not that one is more insecure than the other, they both are doubtful and fear losing the one they love. Although not everything is tied up with a firm and neat little bow, the end offers a sweet resolution and conclusion for the reader.

IN SUMMARY:
Passion comes to a tender conclusion in this final volume.