I Can't Stop Loving You!

I Can't Stop Loving You puts a supernatural twist on the yaoi love story: Kyouji, our long-haired, broad-chested, sexy seme is a Bhuddist monk-in-training, and therefore is responsible for any kind of spiritual or ghostly happenings in his high school. The problem is, he can't see the ghosts he's supposed to be exorcising. Luckily for Kyouji, his lover Yu can see ghosts. Yu has also developed an unnatural strength, the extent of which he doesn't realize -- which makes it impossible for him to have sex with Kyouji without violently injuring him.

Yu's strength and the supernatural angle are the main plot points of I Can't Stop Loving You, being the two major obstacles to Kyouji and Yu consummating their sweet, ultimately loving relationship. The first of two volumes contains a series of self-contained stories in which someone -- either a classmate, an acquaintance, or one of the boys themselves -- becomes possessed by an angry spirit. Kyouji and Yu have to work together to exorcise the spirit, which brings them closer with new revelations about their relationship. They try to have sex at least once in every chapter, making for a lot of beautiful, wet, sweaty eye-candy as the well-built yet slightly doofy Kyouji ravishes the delicate yet powerful Yu.

The second of two volumes contains one continuous story about Kyouji and Yu, in which Kyouji must go off to a mountaintop to train, and Yu follows, not wanting to be separated from his lover for so long. It's more of the same from the first volume, but with a single coherent plot rather than several smaller stories. The second volume also contains an unrelated short story, "The Best Place," dealing with the son of a rich man who fights with his father's adopted (and very sexy) son over the inheritance. "The Best Place" has a lot of promise, but it felt awkward and rushed. The relationship between the natural son, Toru, and the adopted son, Kenji, seemed very forced and unrealistic.

The biggest thing that I Can't Stop Loving You has going for it is the way that mangaka Takakura Row creates a relationship both beautiful and real, both sexy and tender. This kind of feeling is something almost unique to Takakura-sensei, who always combines her luscious, detailed sex scenes with warm, loving moments of the couple showing their real emotions. The "schtick" of Kyouji and Yu being unable to finish having sex without Yu injuring Kyouji keeps the reader interested from chapter to chapter, waiting and hoping that maybe this time they'll really be able to do it.

Overall, I Can't Stop Loving You is a satisfying two volumes, with just enough plot and just enough sexy moments to keep you reading. It may not be incredibly unique or particularly moving, but it is a good, fun read that won't leave you feeling disappointed.