▪	RELEASED BY:		DIGITAL MANGA PUBLISHING
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		KEIKO KONNO
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		200
		▪	RATING:		M
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		12/05/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		05/17/2008
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

Basically the four parts follow the themes of earth, fire, wind and mountain, Not only covering their evolution from friends to lovers, the manga also tackles the confusion they go through as teens to the determination they gain as young adults. Passion begets conflict. They both have girlfriends. The introverted Otani is pained and confused over his lack of interest in girls and chalks it up to his lack of experience. He has no finesse with people, unlike Tachibana. The girlfriend in question isn’t all that nice though, or maybe that’s natural for girls of that age? It was easy to see his awkwardness and lack of connection with her and his bond and ease with Tachibana. His first time with Tachibana is depicted sensitively in this volume and how they manage to get together through teenage angst, sexual confusion, and coming into one’s own as an adult.

The last chapter focuses less on them and a lot on Sho and his American actor and lover Al. When he learns how Al raised the money to come see him in Tokyo, he gets angry and hurt. Will this result in resolution or dissolution of their relationship? It’s a long distance story with an unusual twist. It is followed by bonus extras involving both Sho and Al as well as Tachibana and Otani.

There’s nothing overly explicit in the manga. And it holds solid, decent art work. It has a general yaoi appeal with its illustrative style.

IN SUMMARY:
The second volume of Words of Devotion is a tender preview of Tachibana and Otani’s early years and how they first came together as friends and as lovers.