▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		KIYO FUJIRAWA
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / BW
		▪	PAGES:		200
		▪	RATING:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		12/11/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		01/06/2008
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

A 16 year old girl loses her mother, the only family she had in the world – or so she thought. The grandfather she never knew she had arrives to take her in, but this isn’t any ordinary family. He’s the head of a yakuza gang. Suddenly Sachie finds herself in a mansion filled with thugs and gangsters. For her bodyguard, she has Rakuto, a handsome young man about her own age. He’s clever and kind but when she’s in trouble from rival gang members of grandpa’s, ordinary street hoodlums, or bullies at school, Rakuto reveals that there’s a good reason why grandpa chose him to protect his precious princess. Soon Sachie can’t help but be taken in by Rakuto’s mysterious ways, good looks, and gentle manners with her. But even if he feels anything for her, he is bound by duty and his status as her lowly servant to never reveal his true heart. Can love be found despite Sachie’s sudden odd reversal of fortune? Welcome to the madcap and surprisingly touching romance Wild Ones.

A comedic romance, this story is energetic. With yakuza all about it certainly is never boring! Sachie is a kind girl and polite, but when push comes to shove she has a straightforward way of standing up for what, and who, she believes in. The enigmatic Rakuto is an intriguing character and well suited for the romantic interest. Together, these two make a charismatic couple that you just want to see together. What I didn’t expect was the manga to be so poignant. It has many tender hearted moments that occur that reminded me a little of Fruits Basket. Not as complex a story, Wild Ones nevertheless manages to warm the heart with some sweet and tender moments between these characters that have not had an easy time of things. Each person carries their own grief, as readers learn throughout the chapters, and yet it’s their strength in trying to overcome their circumstances that makes the manga so inspiring.

The art work is lovely. It displays moving scenes and layered character nuances. For the comedy it has a subtle touch to bring out the humor in any given scene. It is a pretty and appealing style that shojo fans will enjoy thoroughly.

IN SUMMARY:
Wild Ones is an all new romantic comedy between a girl and a yakuza that will steal your heart.