fruits basket, volume eight (reread)
Apr. 28th, 2010 04:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wingblossomWelcome to another edition of the Unofficial Fruits Basket Reread! Before you start reading, grab a snack, sit down, and relax. ♥
For those who aren't familiar with this project,bell and I are rereading the Furuba manga with clearer eyes -- writing down our impressions as we go through each volume again and scrutinize its content, talking about new things we may have noticed this time around. We alternate posts between each volume, and reply back to keep the discussion going. If anyone has any thoughts they'd like to add, feel free to weigh in at any time!
In this post, I'll be talking about volume eight. However, do beware of spoilers for the whole series below the cut.
General reactions:
Good, interesting volume on the whole! The first half focuses mainly on Ritsu -- and then he's (almost) never seen again, poor guy -- while the second half is a lot more twisty and complex, showing that something is truly amiss in the Sohma family. Other notable things in this volume include Haru wreaking bloody havoc in a classroom, Tohru, Yuki, and Kyou preparing for summer break while realizing their lives are at a crossroads, sibling bonding between Ayame and Yuki, and our INTRODUCTION TO RIN. She's only there for a few panels, but it counts! There's also foreshadowing for Kureno's introduction as one of the Jyunishi, something I forgot about the first time I read this volume.
.
These chapters fly by. After a rather rough effort last time, Takaya's writing here is much more on the mark. There are a number of different plot threads, but they're integrated well, instead of in scattershot fashion like volume seven. I also like her art here. To be honest, whenever I think about Furuba's art, I'm of the opinion that it's only somewhat above average. But there's something immersive about Takaya's clean lines and panel progression; it manages to pull the reader in, which is amazing even with the less complex visual design.
Also, the second half of volume eight is way more entertaining than the first. I have to admit, Ritsu is my least favorite of the Jyunishi. The chapters that focus on him are vaguely amusing, but grow dull quick. Yes, sometimes I feel bad for disliking him -- I mean, the dude has absolutely no self-confidence whatsoever. But his hysterics do get on my nerves, more than I think Takaya intended. There's no shortage of characters in Furuba with poor self-esteem, but Ritsu is the only one who makes me want to tear my hair out with his shrinking violet fits of apologizing. (Side note: Shigure, stop being a jerk and spurring Ritsu on to even more fits of apoplexy.)
That said, I think his feelings of being useless at sports/academics/etcetera are basically psychosomatic. He's not stupid or uncoordinated or anything, but he's convinced himself that's the case. And since this is constantly reinforced by his parents' behavior, he acts this way in public, which continues the vicious cycle. It's a trend we see with all the Sohma, really, and the effect of Tohru-as-catalyst is to see if any of them can break out of these long-held patterns, self-imposed or otherwise. Lastly, I often forget that Ritsu is introduced after Kyou's true form is revealed. When it comes to the early portions of the story, the anime chronology takes precedence in my mind sometimes.
.
I am excited to see Rin on the scene! RIIIIIIN. Such an engaging character! And with her long hair intact for now, which is a minor blessing in disguise. I like how this volume foreshadows her role later on in the series, all the while providing hints for the reader to take however it suits them. In fact, I was amused to see Tohru jump to the conclusion that both the Horse and the Rooster were male, since she had just met Ricchan and assumed he was one of the three female Jyunishi. XD
I'm pretty fond of Rin and Haru's dynamic in general: their relationship is only beginning to surface here (I'm sure a lot of people went, "huh!?" when Haru mentioned he had a girlfriend), so one of the few things we know about Rin right now is that she...seemingly dumped Haru for no reason. (Again, I'm sure a lot of people were quick to judge Rin because of this.) Of course, that's not actually the case, and so she remains the lone mysterious and enigmatic figure at the moment. Or not lone at all, perhaps, considering that Kureno hasn't been introduced yet and Shigure just gets creepier by the minute.
Haru gets some well-deserved attention in this volume, and this is where he starts to become truly interesting. I always liked him, but his insecurities and placid strength here -- as seen in the classroom scenes and his conversations with Yuki, which sort of bookend the chapters -- are what really catch my attention. That is, along with his deadpan sense of humor. It's interesting to see the emphasis on Haru and Yuki's friendship here as well. Haru's constantly encouraging Yuki to be a bit more expressive about his feelings regarding Tohru, which Yuki does not respond well to at all. (In contrast, Haru has no compulsions when it comes to talking about Rin.) Again we see the repeated "lid" on Yuki's feelings, and his conviction that he's utterly selfish.
As for Yuki, I love how his angsty backstory memories are interrupted by Ayame's exuberance. XD If exuberance is the right word, ahem. It's just so much fun to see them interact -- Ayame wants an ~Interesting Story~ out of everything, and Yuki wants him to get to the point quickly. And then amidst all the arguing, there are smaller details to remind the reader that Ayame really is making an effort to get along with Yuki better. Like the fact that he brought peaches and crabs to Shigure's because Yuki liked them as a child, or the fact that he wanted to be capable of making something with his own hands, which ended up being sewing instead of cooking or gardening. It's very sweet. And then you find out that Ayame stitched "older brother's property" on the back of Yuki's shirt and facepalm at that.
Lastly, there's some good-natured humor with the horror house and start of summer break, along with certain signs of uneasiness and anxiety regarding the future. With Tohru, it has to do with Kyoko's death, and with Kyou, it has to do with, well, everything concerning his cursed state as the cat. But the last few pages are certainly ominous, hinting at signs of yet more plot developments to come.
.
Stuff I enjoyed:
*Seeing Ritsu borrow his first dress from Kagura. It's also a good reminder that Kagura's much older than she looks!
*Kazuma's haircut, and his explanation that he only kept his hair long in the past to improve Kyou's luck.
*Realizing that Yuki fails at bandaging people's arms.
*Shigure actually offering helpful advice! Not the advice he gives to Ritsu (although bizarrely, he is sort of right about that too, it just comes across as rather mean-spirited), but in terms of dealing with a lot of burdens and starting "with the laundry right at your feet." Really, it IS sensible advice, and offsets much of the other dialogue we're used to hearing from Shigure.
*This exchange. Haru's thought processes are so "???" inducing sometimes. XD
*I also loved these panels when I first saw them in tankouban format.
Stuff I wasn't too fond of:
Like I've explained, Ritsu tends to grate on my nerves. I admit to skimming through his sections a bit, but since Ritsu isn't a major player in the storyline, I don't feel terribly guilty about this.
Silly fanart idea:
AHAHA, AAYA EATS EVEN HIS SOBA WITH CONFIDENCE. I think I may have to sketch a 4koma for that, with Ayame explaining how to eat soba ~the right way~. As a king would, when facing his subjects!
Overall:
Enjoyable volume, and I know that even better chapters are yet to come! I'm looking forward to them. I know that summer break is a turning point for all the characters, so in a way, this is very much the calm before the storm.
Links to previous volumes:
Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three
Volume Four
Volume Five
Volume Six
Volume Seven
For those who aren't familiar with this project,
bell and I are rereading the Furuba manga with clearer eyes -- writing down our impressions as we go through each volume again and scrutinize its content, talking about new things we may have noticed this time around. We alternate posts between each volume, and reply back to keep the discussion going. If anyone has any thoughts they'd like to add, feel free to weigh in at any time! In this post, I'll be talking about volume eight. However, do beware of spoilers for the whole series below the cut.
General reactions:
Good, interesting volume on the whole! The first half focuses mainly on Ritsu -- and then he's (almost) never seen again, poor guy -- while the second half is a lot more twisty and complex, showing that something is truly amiss in the Sohma family. Other notable things in this volume include Haru wreaking bloody havoc in a classroom, Tohru, Yuki, and Kyou preparing for summer break while realizing their lives are at a crossroads, sibling bonding between Ayame and Yuki, and our INTRODUCTION TO RIN. She's only there for a few panels, but it counts! There's also foreshadowing for Kureno's introduction as one of the Jyunishi, something I forgot about the first time I read this volume.
. These chapters fly by. After a rather rough effort last time, Takaya's writing here is much more on the mark. There are a number of different plot threads, but they're integrated well, instead of in scattershot fashion like volume seven. I also like her art here. To be honest, whenever I think about Furuba's art, I'm of the opinion that it's only somewhat above average. But there's something immersive about Takaya's clean lines and panel progression; it manages to pull the reader in, which is amazing even with the less complex visual design.
Also, the second half of volume eight is way more entertaining than the first. I have to admit, Ritsu is my least favorite of the Jyunishi. The chapters that focus on him are vaguely amusing, but grow dull quick. Yes, sometimes I feel bad for disliking him -- I mean, the dude has absolutely no self-confidence whatsoever. But his hysterics do get on my nerves, more than I think Takaya intended. There's no shortage of characters in Furuba with poor self-esteem, but Ritsu is the only one who makes me want to tear my hair out with his shrinking violet fits of apologizing. (Side note: Shigure, stop being a jerk and spurring Ritsu on to even more fits of apoplexy.)
That said, I think his feelings of being useless at sports/academics/etcetera are basically psychosomatic. He's not stupid or uncoordinated or anything, but he's convinced himself that's the case. And since this is constantly reinforced by his parents' behavior, he acts this way in public, which continues the vicious cycle. It's a trend we see with all the Sohma, really, and the effect of Tohru-as-catalyst is to see if any of them can break out of these long-held patterns, self-imposed or otherwise. Lastly, I often forget that Ritsu is introduced after Kyou's true form is revealed. When it comes to the early portions of the story, the anime chronology takes precedence in my mind sometimes.
. I am excited to see Rin on the scene! RIIIIIIN. Such an engaging character! And with her long hair intact for now, which is a minor blessing in disguise. I like how this volume foreshadows her role later on in the series, all the while providing hints for the reader to take however it suits them. In fact, I was amused to see Tohru jump to the conclusion that both the Horse and the Rooster were male, since she had just met Ricchan and assumed he was one of the three female Jyunishi. XD
I'm pretty fond of Rin and Haru's dynamic in general: their relationship is only beginning to surface here (I'm sure a lot of people went, "huh!?" when Haru mentioned he had a girlfriend), so one of the few things we know about Rin right now is that she...seemingly dumped Haru for no reason. (Again, I'm sure a lot of people were quick to judge Rin because of this.) Of course, that's not actually the case, and so she remains the lone mysterious and enigmatic figure at the moment. Or not lone at all, perhaps, considering that Kureno hasn't been introduced yet and Shigure just gets creepier by the minute.
Haru gets some well-deserved attention in this volume, and this is where he starts to become truly interesting. I always liked him, but his insecurities and placid strength here -- as seen in the classroom scenes and his conversations with Yuki, which sort of bookend the chapters -- are what really catch my attention. That is, along with his deadpan sense of humor. It's interesting to see the emphasis on Haru and Yuki's friendship here as well. Haru's constantly encouraging Yuki to be a bit more expressive about his feelings regarding Tohru, which Yuki does not respond well to at all. (In contrast, Haru has no compulsions when it comes to talking about Rin.) Again we see the repeated "lid" on Yuki's feelings, and his conviction that he's utterly selfish.
As for Yuki, I love how his angsty backstory memories are interrupted by Ayame's exuberance. XD If exuberance is the right word, ahem. It's just so much fun to see them interact -- Ayame wants an ~Interesting Story~ out of everything, and Yuki wants him to get to the point quickly. And then amidst all the arguing, there are smaller details to remind the reader that Ayame really is making an effort to get along with Yuki better. Like the fact that he brought peaches and crabs to Shigure's because Yuki liked them as a child, or the fact that he wanted to be capable of making something with his own hands, which ended up being sewing instead of cooking or gardening. It's very sweet. And then you find out that Ayame stitched "older brother's property" on the back of Yuki's shirt and facepalm at that.
Lastly, there's some good-natured humor with the horror house and start of summer break, along with certain signs of uneasiness and anxiety regarding the future. With Tohru, it has to do with Kyoko's death, and with Kyou, it has to do with, well, everything concerning his cursed state as the cat. But the last few pages are certainly ominous, hinting at signs of yet more plot developments to come.
. Stuff I enjoyed:
*Seeing Ritsu borrow his first dress from Kagura. It's also a good reminder that Kagura's much older than she looks!
*Kazuma's haircut, and his explanation that he only kept his hair long in the past to improve Kyou's luck.
*Realizing that Yuki fails at bandaging people's arms.
*Shigure actually offering helpful advice! Not the advice he gives to Ritsu (although bizarrely, he is sort of right about that too, it just comes across as rather mean-spirited), but in terms of dealing with a lot of burdens and starting "with the laundry right at your feet." Really, it IS sensible advice, and offsets much of the other dialogue we're used to hearing from Shigure.
*This exchange. Haru's thought processes are so "???" inducing sometimes. XD
*I also loved these panels when I first saw them in tankouban format.
Stuff I wasn't too fond of:
Like I've explained, Ritsu tends to grate on my nerves. I admit to skimming through his sections a bit, but since Ritsu isn't a major player in the storyline, I don't feel terribly guilty about this.
Silly fanart idea:
AHAHA, AAYA EATS EVEN HIS SOBA WITH CONFIDENCE. I think I may have to sketch a 4koma for that, with Ayame explaining how to eat soba ~the right way~. As a king would, when facing his subjects!
Overall:
Enjoyable volume, and I know that even better chapters are yet to come! I'm looking forward to them. I know that summer break is a turning point for all the characters, so in a way, this is very much the calm before the storm.
Links to previous volumes:
Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three
Volume Four
Volume Five
Volume Six
Volume Seven
no subject
on 2010-05-03 01:09 am (UTC)First off, you did a pretty good recap here! :3 I can't disagree with it-- a lot of focus on Ritsu (who'll barely appear after this lolololol) with the rest laying the groundwork for us to discover just how extra-creepy the Sohma family *really* is. Like you, Ritsu doesn't interest me much-- the hysteria gets overdone, and it's a pity that the cross-dressing character gets a quick ~~fix-it~~ through the power of HETEROSEXUAL LOOOOVE-- so I'll focus on the rest. (Side-note: one of the series tropes is focusing on one of the character's dramas for a few chapters and while it was very effective at first, it... just gets overdone, adlkfjadlkfj. Hiro's and Ritsu's don't work very well for me. And by the time we get to Rin's, I was cringing, WE HAVE HAD ENOOOUGH. I'm sure it was intentional, but in many ways I wish Takaya-sensei hadn't overused that storytelling technique, as I think she's more effective when she's weaving multiple plotlines, like she did in the last three chapters of this volume.)
There are several moments in this volume that makes me pause, going, "what's behind this?" Haru's destruction of the classroom; Haru breaking up with his girlfriend; Yuki's sinister melancholy at the mention of his parents/future; Kyou's despondency at his own post-school prospects; and those last few pages with Rin, Shigure, and Akito. I remember they confused me at the time, too, and reading them now I'm all OOHHHHHHH FORESHADOWIIIIIING. I forgot that Tohru didn't know about Kyou's fate of going to prison! Which makes sense, since that becomes a major motivational point for her.
Rin makes *such* a splash here. Like you mention, Takaya-sensei may not have gorgeous art, but she is effective. Her strength lays in layout/composition, perhaps, and expressing emotions... but damn that first page we see with Rin, staring out angry and determined and sick from her long strands of hair. No one needed to tell me, "this girl is determined, and this girl is angry, and this girl is carrying a weight with her." I *saw* it. You mention what readers must've thought at the time-- I think I was intrigued! And I didn't want her with Haru (I was disappointed that another maybe-gay character was straight, I'll admit ;___;), and I thought she must've been in love with Shigure, from her words about how it could be no one but him. I think Rin ends up being one of the most interesting characters of the series...! But, so, yeah, like you, I loved-- and still love-- those panels. DAMN, TAKAYA-SENSEI. <333
One thing I'm wondering about is the significance of some of the stories in the series. The one I don't quite get is the one Haru tells in the ghost house. Why is it there in the series, why did Haru tell it? Was he thinking of himself, how much he wanted to be with Rin, and how any cost (even ripping off your own head) would be worth it to be with them again? I don't think Takaya-sensei would've stuck such a long story just for the hell of it, so-- oh. It might not just be Haru. It might be the whole Sohma clan, and the curse. They wanted so badly to stay together that they caused great hurt to themselves....!
The other story I wonder about is the one Shigure told to Tohru, about washing one piece of laundry at a time. It's a sweet story (if in kind of disturbing gendered dynamics, women -> washing laundry, etc), and the advice was good. BUT SHIGURE HAS ULTERIOR MOTIVES LOL. I guess he didn't want Tohru to become discouraged from the task he wants her to accomplish. :D? He knows she has a long way to go, and wanted to give her advice on how to not lose courage?
Yuki, too... felt so dark and distant in this volume. At least, to Tohru. There were some panels were they were talking, and there was a guuulf between them-- Yuki closing himself off, it felt like-- and the art emphasized that, using black backgrounds. Awww. ;__; Meanwhile, Tohru and Kyou are having heart-to-hearts. And Yuki is opening up to at least Haru. Which was nice. I do like their friendship. ♥ You mention how Haru starts to become interesting-- I think he was, before, but here he acquires a third dimension? Because we learn about his own drama, his own problems, rather than just being pretty eye-candy support for the other characters.
I think the BIG THINGS AHEAD foreshadowing about the summer was a bit heavy-handed, but there *are* big things ahead, and I feel like she at least delivers on just how epic it's gonna be, so....?
The humor, like you mention, is pretty good in this chapter. :3 One moment I think you don't mention is Tohru going "The peaches are tasty, aren't they!" and Yuki goes, "I guess :D???" and Tohru beams. They sooo aren't getting each other by that point. *laughs*
This is one of my favorite moments of the whole series. I love it even more in Japanese. <333
no subject
on 2010-05-05 03:23 pm (UTC)Agreed! Although...you've seen the omake, right? It continues to amuse me that Mit-chan has no idea if Ritsu is a woman or not after they've ALREADY BEEN OUT on a few dates (because he keeps wearing that furisode!), and feels too uncomfortable to actually ask him about it. XD That's slightly more ambiguous than what Takaya did with the other couples.
(Side-note: one of the series tropes is focusing on one of the character's dramas for a few chapters and while it was very effective at first, it... just gets overdone, adlkfjadlkfj. Hiro's and Ritsu's don't work very well for me. And by the time we get to Rin's, I was cringing, WE HAVE HAD ENOOOUGH. I'm sure it was intentional, but in many ways I wish Takaya-sensei hadn't overused that storytelling technique, as I think she's more effective when she's weaving multiple plotlines, like she did in the last three chapters of this volume.)
I actually liked Rin's chapters quite a bit! I mean, I see that the storytelling technique she used was overused by that point, but I found Rin interesting, so I didn't feel like I was reading the same thing over and over again ad nauseum. I also liked her character arc for showcasing how developed Haru and Rin's relationship was, particularly in relation to the other Jyunishi, and showing the extent of Akito's internalized misogyny. Those bits, imo, went a lot further than just focusing on Rin's personal drama to the detriment of the overall plot.
Rin makes *such* a splash here. Like you mention, Takaya-sensei may not have gorgeous art, but she is effective. Her strength lays in layout/composition, perhaps, and expressing emotions... but damn that first page we see with Rin, staring out angry and determined and sick from her long strands of hair. No one needed to tell me, "this girl is determined, and this girl is angry, and this girl is carrying a weight with her." I *saw* it.
I still think I have the tendency to underrate Takaya's art whenever I talk about it! Because while Takaya's art may be average in areas like background detail and color theory, she makes up for it in overall composition and character design. (Yes, character design. It never ceases to impress me how distinctive Furuba's characters are, especially for shoujo manga, where the usual differentiators besides physical build come down to length of hair and size of eyes.)
You mention what readers must've thought at the time-- I think I was intrigued! And I didn't want her with Haru (I was disappointed that another maybe-gay character was straight, I'll admit ;___;), and I thought she must've been in love with Shigure, from her words about how it could be no one but him. I think Rin ends up being one of the most interesting characters of the series...! But, so, yeah, like you, I loved-- and still love-- those panels. DAMN, TAKAYA-SENSEI. <333
Well, when I say what "readers must have thought," I'm basically paraphrasing what I saw in blog posts and the mailing list around that time. XD So it's not really guesswork; it's how a lot of fans did react. Still, I was intrigued by Rin too, since she had so much presence. I was also wondering if something else was up with her, other than the traumatic family background that most of the other Sohma had -- and as it turned out, nope, not at all. A bit disappointing in that respect, since when she initially started talking to Shigure and so on, I thought that she would have more of a hand in breaking the actual curse.
One thing I'm wondering about is the significance of some of the stories in the series.
Which other stories are you thinking of? The only other one that comes instantly to mind is Momiji's story about the foolish traveler. :D And the meaning behind that one is, I think, pretty obvious.
The one I don't quite get is the one Haru tells in the ghost house. Why is it there in the series, why did Haru tell it? Was he thinking of himself, how much he wanted to be with Rin, and how any cost (even ripping off your own head) would be worth it to be with them again? I don't think Takaya-sensei would've stuck such a long story just for the hell of it, so-- oh. It might not just be Haru. It might be the whole Sohma clan, and the curse. They wanted so badly to stay together that they caused great hurt to themselves....!
Yep. Cycles and cycles of descendants, crushing effects of abuse...I have to say, I would not want to be stuck in any of their shoes. (And the Cat is the only one who realized this might not be a good thing. Shame on everyone else?) And what about the effects of stories in the Sohma clan and in Furuba on the whole? Like the history of the zodiac animals themselves, or Tohru's affection for the Cat as a child, based on what Kyoko told her?
The other story I wonder about is the one Shigure told to Tohru, about washing one piece of laundry at a time. It's a sweet story (if in kind of disturbing gendered dynamics, women -> washing laundry, etc), and the advice was good. BUT SHIGURE HAS ULTERIOR MOTIVES LOL. I guess he didn't want Tohru to become discouraged from the task he wants her to accomplish. :D? He knows she has a long way to go, and wanted to give her advice on how to not lose courage?
!! You know, I have to say I never thought of it that way! Either in terms of gender dynamics (possibly because I saw it as Shigure handing out that advice in a general sense, and not just aimed at Tohru) or ulterior motives. WOW, I FEEL DENSE. I may have given Shigure too little credit here for being a tactitian, and too much credit for being a genuinely decent human being. That will not happen again.
Yuki, too... felt so dark and distant in this volume. At least, to Tohru. There were some panels were they were talking, and there was a guuulf between them-- Yuki closing himself off, it felt like-- and the art emphasized that, using black backgrounds. Awww. ;__; Meanwhile, Tohru and Kyou are having heart-to-hearts. And Yuki is opening up to at least Haru. Which was nice. I do like their friendship. ♥ You mention how Haru starts to become interesting-- I think he was, before, but here he acquires a third dimension? Because we learn about his own drama, his own problems, rather than just being pretty eye-candy support for the other characters.
Hahah, I wouldn't say that Haru lacked depth of his own before this volume, but it was about time that had his own focus in the storyline. The more I read Furuba, the more I appreciate him as a character. Like Momiji, I feel like he's the kind of guy who could get potentially gypped in a lot of ways (in his own mellow fashion, he always goes out of his way to help others, and rarely asks anything for himself in return), but the story treats him well enough on the whole.
I think the BIG THINGS AHEAD foreshadowing about the summer was a bit heavy-handed, but there *are* big things ahead, and I feel like she at least delivers on just how epic it's gonna be, so....?
Definitely! There'll be a truckload of things to talk about from now to the end of volume ten, at least.
The humor, like you mention, is pretty good in this chapter. :3 One moment I think you don't mention is Tohru going "The peaches are tasty, aren't they!" and Yuki goes, "I guess :D???" and Tohru beams. They sooo aren't getting each other by that point. *laughs*
Er, I don't remember that exchange. XD What chapter was it in, again?
This is one of my favorite moments of the whole series. I love it even more in Japanese. <333
Likewise! I think I pointed it out in the list of things I really liked this volume, actually.
no subject
on 2010-06-06 02:53 pm (UTC)!!!!! I either never saw that or plain forgot. That *is* pretty awesome. I like that Mitchan seems to be okay with Ritsu being either female or male :D (that is, I assume she is, if she kept dating him without knowing). Sounds like it took them a while to get much clothes off... XD *guttermind*
when she initially started talking to Shigure and so on, I thought that she would have more of a hand in breaking the actual curse.
Yeah. .__. When she started going after Rin I thought she might be a key player, but she ended up as one more concerned person, only with more knowledge? I suppose there wasn't much more Rin *could* do, since to break the curse was as simple as Tohru falling in love with Kyou... otoh Shigure seems to take more of the credit for getting the ball rolling?? (Well he did introduce them... I wonder, how did Shigure know it'd work out with Tohru? And she *did* just kind of fall into their laps, it's not like Shigure FOUND her. Unless his brilliant strategy was to lay out his jyuunishi figurines and wait for the right-aged person to come and What About The Cat?! *snorts*)
Which other stories are you thinking of?
Mmm, I don't know! The ones you listed and the ones I extrapolated on in this post, plus anymore we come across as we go along the series. :3
(And the Cat is the only one who realized this might not be a good thing. Shame on everyone else?)
XD Pretty much! HOW DARE HE NOT WANT TO BE A PART OF ETERNAL BONDAGE. (I guess this means Kyou wouldn't be into S&M and woah I really am gutterminding a lot today! :D)
I may have given Shigure too little credit here for being a tactitian, and too much credit for being a genuinely decent human being.
He could be both asshole tactician and decent human being, no? :D? Ultimately he did a looooot of people a lot of good but he was willing to make others hurt muchly and I think if there had been need for crueler sacrifices, he'd have made them...
Er, I don't remember that exchange. XD What chapter was it in, again?
Last page of Ayame's chapter, if I remember correctly! Tohru is happy that Ayame was right in remembering that Yuki likes the peaches so she's beaming at Yuki for that, and Yuki totally doesn't understand why she's so happy with a few peaces. X3
no subject
on 2010-06-06 05:38 pm (UTC)Me too! I mean, I shouldn't be happy that they're still uncomfortable around each other, but that is a priceless example of gender ambiguity. (Come to think of it, Mit-chan doesn't always look stereotypically feminine, what with her close-cropped hair...)
Sounds like it took them a while to get much clothes off... XD *guttermind*
Well. XD If you look at it that way...they're Ricchan and Mit-chan, bell. RICCHAN AND MIT-CHAN. I think that's all that needs to be said.
And she *did* just kind of fall into their laps, it's not like Shigure FOUND her. Unless his brilliant strategy was to lay out his jyuunishi figurines and wait for the right-aged person to come and What About The Cat?!
Shigure totally planned everything from the start. *g* As for Rin, I think that I wouldn't have been bothered had the story not built up the impression that she was going to do more from the start. Instead? She ends up locked away in a cage. And with a haircut. God damn it. (And yes, I do mean that both literally and figuratively.)
I guess this means Kyou wouldn't be into S&M and woah I really am gutterminding a lot today! :D
YOU REALLY ARE, BELL. YOU REALLY, REALLY ARE.
who would be into that, I wonder (oh great, now I'm gutterminding too)He could be both asshole tactician and decent human being, no? :D? Ultimately he did a looooot of people a lot of good but he was willing to make others hurt muchly and I think if there had been need for crueler sacrifices, he'd have made them...
It's possible, yes...why does everything you just said remind me of Ruka from Utena!?
Last page of Ayame's chapter, if I remember correctly! Tohru is happy that Ayame was right in remembering that Yuki likes the peaches so she's beaming at Yuki for that, and Yuki totally doesn't understand why she's so happy with a few peaces.
Aha, thanks! That's a cute detail; I'll have to go back and read that.
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on 2010-06-06 06:00 pm (UTC):O And her suits! More and more interesting, ufufufu~ And yes your point about whom we're talking about stands. I wonder if they'd even kiss before their wedding...? .__.
Shigure totally planned everything from the start. *g*
But how can you plan Girls Meets Boy, Girl Loves Boy? *boggles*
Instead? She ends up locked away in a cage. And with a haircut. God damn it. (And yes, I do mean that both literally and figuratively.)
...Now I'm all depressed. RIIIIN.
ho would be into that, I wonder (oh great, now I'm gutterminding too)
:D :DDD Maybe Ayame? I don't know! He seems to like different costumes -> trying on different identities? And he has a lot of guilt that could be relieved through S&M? And Mine seems like she'd enjoy being a dom... Shigure too comes to mind-- he fell in love with the great master of the whole family, no?
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on 2010-06-07 12:53 am (UTC)Eheh, now I kind of want to read fic about that! How do two characters like Ritsu and Mit-chan work up the courage to be in a relationship, anyway?
But how can you plan Girls Meets Boy, Girl Loves Boy? *boggles*
You can't. XD I was joking about the "Shigure totes planned everything" comment, because no matter how good he may be at manipulation, there's no way he'd be able to plan entirely for details like that.
Maybe Ayame? I don't know! He seems to like different costumes -> trying on different identities?
I don't know if I've ever seen Ayame as the bondage type, despite the fact that he is a snake. XD Then again, the fact that he and Mine are ever! so! slightly! kinky (without pushing things too far by HtY standards, of course) does give me the impression that could be the case.
Shigure too comes to mind-- he fell in love with the great master of the whole family, no?
Yeah, he was actually the first one who came to mind after I finished writing that comment. *g* I wonder how Akito'd feel about that, though...(For that matter, I wondered about Kureno for a bit, but I can't shake the impression that he's pretty vanilla.)