Lovers and Souls

Universe created by Miyamoto Kano by telling stories of different protagonists interacting with each other as they are dealing with everyday life struggles and love. Realistic in depicting ambiguous feelings, dilemmas, imperfections and seemingly small choices impacting whole lives. Recommended for audience seeking emotionally mature and realistic reading experience. From tvtropes: The Rules Universe consists of a series of yaoi stories created by Kano Miyamoto, which mainly revolves around Hikaru, his love interests, and friends. Hikaru's high school friend and love rival Ryuu debuts in Please, while Hikaru himself debuts in Kiss. Hydra and its doujinshi revolves around Ryuu, Hikaru, and Hitomi and their high school years. Lovers and Souls covers the story of Hikaru's prostitute friend Tooru and Tooru's sempai, Matsuoko. Rules and its doujinshi focus on Hikaru, Yuki, Tooru, and Atori. **Timeline: ** 1) [Please](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=5613) (ch5) {R} 2) [Rules / Hydra: Short Stories](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=7276) (ch1-3) - Kiss {R,HT,H} - Kiss After {R,HT,H} - Skies {R,HT,H} 3) [Hydra](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=11334) (ch 1-6) 4) [Rules / Hydra: Short Stories](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=7276) (ch4) - Heavenly {R,HT,H} 5) [Hydra](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=11334) (ch 7-8) 6) [Hydra dj - Blue Film First](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=32009) {R,HT,H} 7) [Hydra](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=11334) (ch 9-10) 8) [Hydra dj - The Days Before](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=47909) {R,HT,H} 10) [Rules / Hydra: Short Stories](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=7276) (ch5) - Real Things {HT,H} 11) [Rules dj - Hello Again](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=45968) {HT,H} 12) [Lovers and Souls](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=5840) (ch3) - Sleeping Beauty {M,T} 13) [Lovers and Souls](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=5840) (ch1) - Lovers and Souls {T,HT,S,M} 14) [Rules / Hydra: Short Stories](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=7276) (ch6) - Fragile {T,HT,S} 15) [Lovers and Souls](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=5840)- (ch2) - Vanity 16) [Rules](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=2325) (vol 1 - 3) {HT,T,Y,A,H,S} 17) [Another Rules Story (Novel)](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=28602) {T,A} 18) [Rules dj - If Winter Comes, Can Spring Be Far Behind?](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=7028) {HT,T,Y,A,H} 19) [Rules dj - Song Birds](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=13262) {HT,Y,T,A} 20) [Another Day on the Planet](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=23921) {HT,Y} 21) [Rules dj - Double Trouble](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=42665) {HT,Y,T,A} 22) Rules dj - Overload 23) [Rules 2nd](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=94194) ??) [Dreamers High](https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=75193) Characters: R = Ryuu HT = Hikaru Taira H = Hitomi T = Tooru S = Shige Y = Yuki

When Ryuu transfers to Hitomi's school, he leaves an immediate impression on him. Curious about rumours of a full-scale tattoo on Ryuu's back, Hitomi starts getting closer to him. Before long, the friendship and fascination Hitomi feels for Ryuu start developing into more, but before he has a chance to come to terms with his feelings, Hikaru appears on the scene.... and he has his eyes set on Hitomi.

Konoe, a high school student, is confused about his sexuality. He meets Hikaru in the sleazy gay district, and sleeps with him. They begin to play at being lovers, but Konoe's heart belongs to Atori, his friend and classmate. Can Konoe come to terms with his sexuality and reveal his feelings to Atori, and where do Hikaru's true feelings lie?

Yuki sees Hikaru with a woman, and is upset thinking that Hikaru might have cheated on him, especially now that they've been together for two years. To make things worse, the woman in question seems to be stalking Hikaru. Meanwhile, Atori and Tohru are concerned about their friends, but at the same time wonder how involved they should get.

This collection of short stories links the stories and characters in Please, Hydra, Lovers and Souls and Rules. In (1,2) Kiss and Kiss After, Ryuu has arrived in Tokyo and is about to become a third year high school student, however it's time to change schools again. Before he leaves, his friend Sekai confesses to him. Follows Chapter 5 of Please (A Bird at Sea, a Door in the Sky). (3) Skies (Hydra chapter 0.5): Our first glimpse of Hikaru (from Rules) in high school, after Ryuu's arrived in Tokyo, and has transferred to his and Hitomi's school. The connection between Hikaru Taira and Yuuji Itou. Continues in Hydra. (4) Heavenly (comes between Hydra Ch. 6 and 7) More with Hikaru, Ryuu, and Hitomi. Hikaru reflects on his current situation with Hitomi while remembering their first meeting. (Liquid Passion) (5) Real Thing: Hikaru centered, it links Hydra with Lovers and Souls. (6) Fragile: Tooru centered, it links Lovers and Souls with Rules. Also involves Shige and Ryoichi (from Please). (See Rules Synopsis for more information on Rules series timeline. See also Hydra.)