Along with the manga series, I’ve also started watching the anime adaptation that was done in 1999-2000, with 39 episodes (originally on TV, and then through OVA releases). I’ve only watched the first few episodes, but it’s really well done, and they do a great job of adapting the manga stories. Also, it’s not done in order, so for example I’d never read the story for the first episode, but I knew the story of the second episode. I’m really looking forward to watching the entires thing.