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Yoite Cosplay

2009-08-25T15:35:40Z

Finally I felt motivated enough to dress up with everything that I have so far collected for my Yoite's cosplay (which really isn't a lot). So far I have the coat (in clearance yay!), the hat (ma fav XP) and maaaaybe the sweater (if I can find a better one, I'll change). It was kind of crazy to do it seeing that we are still in summer, and it was so darn hoooooot.

Bu I am crazy that way!

So ta-da! Here are the pictures of the costume so far, yay!!!

A close up for the coat! It is near perfect to be Yoite's T^T that I amazed myself to have found it. Stupid light though doesn't allow me to show it very clearly, and I was taking the pictures by myself. So yeah... There was a problem.

This one makes me remember the scene where we are introduced to Raikou and Gau and yadda yadda (everyone else). The hat makes it reaaaally easy not to have eye contact. It kinda makes a comfort zone that follows you everywhere. Not a good thing for shy people like moi!!!

I want my glooooves. It took me a couple of minutes to decide if I wanted to make this position or not. Remembering that Yoite sometimes appeared without gloves, I really saw no problem then. Yet... Damnit! Stupid light again doesn't show off the COOLNESS of my trench coat >.<

Common Sense: Show off...

Hey, if you got it, show it XD

It took me a couple of trials to get this one. I was either or too far to the left, or too far to the right, not the right position, too close, too far, etc. Remember that I was taking the pictures by myself, so it was pretty frustrating. But ta-da!

Okay, must admit that I had to beg for help on this one. I had no shoes, and I didn't want to take a picture where my feet would show. But now it's... A black thing with a hat...

Further note here. It is a extremely comfortable position o_O. Kinda feels like the saying "out of sight, out of mind."

-0-

And that is for today! Ignore my comments if you want to, and please do not take offense if you actually do read them. I mean none. I am just excited to have found my coat! Now unto the gloooooves >.> *runs away*

Yoite's Hat

2009-07-16T02:12:56Z

Finally! I got my Yoite's Hat! After a week of waiting (and really... It was a LONG week) I got it. I got so excited that I tried taking pictures in my "Yoite Get Up." I really just used a jacket I had and a scarf I recently got. Hopefully I can get original clothing for my cosplay soon (now that I got the HAT!)

I really don't feel sometimes like cosplaying Yoite. I mean, let's face it. He... she... Yoite is rather "cute" or more like androgynous, and I really don't feel like I fit in that category. But after studying some make up tips and all, let's see if I make do. Here are two pictures that I got! I would have gotten a little farther away from the camera, but I don't have the clothing for that. Soon my people! SOON!

Can you see my excitement in my writing? XD

Haircut Incident

2009-07-09T02:42:36Z

So...

My birthday is coming up (it is actually on the same day as Harry Potter’s). No need for presents or anything. Just a written word is enough (thought it you want to survive July, maybe you SHOULD). And as any impatient woman out there, I want my presents earlier than scheduled.

And that is exactly what I did.

My first thing on the list was to finally (after waiting a whole year) get a haircut. To be accurate I actually wanted a haircut just like Yoite/Sebastian style. It took me a while to find pictures and measures and the like, but finally I found a hairstyle similar enough that would also look good on me (let’s face it people, we are NOT anime characters...).

I found it and all. Then the next thing was to show it to my husband, and get my husband’s approval. Sounds extremely silly, but that’s the only way to get peace around here. Last year I got a pixie haircut, and let’s say it was so shocking he was left speechless for a while, then the war began...

So we decided on the day we will go to a salon. The day finally arrives; I bring the picture with me so the hairstylist knows what to do. It would be obvious that by looking at the picture, he would know what to do. Right?

WRONG!

My first clue was that it is a very “demanded hairstyle.” I actually didn’t know that they were THAT popular, but what the heck. I went with the flow. He asked some questions here and there about the style. I answered them, and he started the cutting.

One thing to point out here is that I am (for all intends and purposes) as blind as a bat. Well, maybe not THAT blind... but pretty much that anything farther than my extended arm is just a blur. It happens that all the time, whenever I go to get a haircut, they request me to take off my glasses. So whatever they cut, I cannot see. A lot of trusting you have to place here, believing that they wont mess up.

So chop chop chop, there goes my hair.

By the end, with the drying of my hair and all, I realized that he got it (I don’t know how, the picture was perfectly clear) COMPLETELY WRONG. Instead of looking as I intended to, I ended up looking like the Ichiki witch that I really, really hate (at least in the anime).

Damage is done, nothing that I could do about it (except pout for couple of days). The only thing left to do is to wait some months until my hair reaches the length I wanted it to be at the beginning. But GODS WHYYY!!!!!!!

To make it up to me, my husband bought me Nabari no Ou Vol. 01 manga, which actually made me extremely happy. So I guess it was not a wasted day after all.

I just have to find that hairstylist again, and use Kira on him... Really...

And avoid as many mirrors as possible.

Life is unfair... dangit.

The GOOD thing! Is that I found the perfect Yoite’s hat! It shall be mine soon... Muwhahahhahahahaha... Next thing would be to find the perfect coat.

Common Sense: But... Summer is just starting.

Me: So?

Common Sense: Wouldn’t it be too hot to use it?

Me: Shut Up! I will use it anyway!

Common Sense: Okay... Fine... I will just continue on my vacation then.

Me: *waves* Have a good trip!

This Halloween is going to rock! ^0^

Common Sense: It’s July, and you are already planning for Halloween?

Me: Shut Up! I thought you left already!

Common Sense: I will then! Since I am clearly not wanted here!

Me: Not in my world you aren’t!

Soon I will be setting up appointments for therapy with a new shrink (fourth one!). Not to worry! After a few brainwashes here and there, I shall be “normal” again.

See you next time!

A First Kiss

2009-07-07T19:41:29Z

Title: A First Kiss
Author: darth_sakura
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Nabari no Ou. I do not make money out of it. No offense is intended with this fictional story.
Pairing: Yoite/Miharu and Kouichi/Raimei
Warning: Spoilers from all episodes of the anime.
Notes: This has not been revised. I apologize for the grammatical errors and such. I must admit that writing what would Yoite and Miharu say it is reaaaaally haaaaard.
Summary: Miharu never considered the importance of a first kiss, until now.

Miharu never considered the importance of a first kiss. He imagined it was a significant deal in the life of every teenager. Either giving it or it being stolen, a first kiss has always taken an important part in the story of each person.

Miharu, never been involved with anyone before, didn’t put too much thought into it.

Until now.

It all started when he was hurrying, after classes ended, to go to Hanabusa-san house to see Yoite. He was dismissing everyone trying to talk to him while avoiding the traffic of students. Getting frustrated by all the people, he decided to take a shortcut through an isolated hallway on the far east of the school.

Reaching the hallway, he almost stumbled upon Raimei and Kouichi who were in the middle of it.

Standing.

Kissing.

Not used to a scene like this, Miharu was left speechless, and unable to move from his position. Raimei and Kouichi, both of them being ninjas, rapidly sensed his presence, and separated with embarrassing blush on their faces. Raimei, humiliated with Miharu catching them in the act, rapidly told them that she left something in the classroom, and left to fetch it.

Miharu slowly turned to Kouichi, who was still a little bit embarrassed but more calm than Raimei, and said almost in whisper, “sorry.”

The white-haired guy turned to Miharu, “Is not your fault Miharu-kun. It is kind of our fault for being in a public place.”

“So you and Raimei,” Miharu left unsaid with his expressionless face.

“Oh! It’s kind of recent actually,” Kouichi said, avoiding Miharu’s eyes. “We haven’t dated as much. Actually... that was our first kiss there.”

“First kiss?”

“Yeah,” Kouichi answered with a laugh. “And what a great ending for it, neh?”

“Sorry.”

“Oh! No no no no! I didn’t mean to blame you Miharu-kun! I told you to not worry about it. Well, I got to go. I will look for Raimei, and walk her to her apartment. See you later Miharu-kun!” Kouichi started to walk in the direction Raimei ran while waving his hand to Miharu.

“Bye.”

After that, for some reason, the concept of a first kiss would not leave Miharu’s mind. Was it that important? Would a first kiss determined if you were either friends or lovers with that person? Would you give to anybody, or someone special? Is it spontaneous or planned?

Without noticing, he already reached Hanabusa-san house. Putting his thoughts for later, he spent a quiet afternoon with Yoite sewing and talking about their activities of the day. Miharu always felt more comfortable being close to Yoite, and felt for the first time that there was something of importance in his life.

When both of them were watching silently the sunset over a cup of tea, Miharu’s thoughts went back again to what happened in that isolated hallway, and his musings over a first kiss. He slowly turned to see Yoite’s profile. Although, he would look a little bit weaker sitting on that rocking chair each passing day, he would also look satisfied and much more content than when he first met the Kira-user.

Putting his tea next to him on the floor, Miharu said, “Yoite, can I ask you a question?”

Inquiring blue eyes turned to green ones, “Yes?”

“Have you ever had your first kiss?”

Yoite’s expression turned to full-blown surprise, and he didn’t speak for several seconds. Then, he slowly turned to the sunset, and said with a calm face, “No, not really. Too many things to be concerned about that.”

Feeling a bit guilty, Miharu turned his eyes to the floor, “I guess.”

“Why you ask that Miharu?”

“I found Kouichi and Raimei kissing at the school today.”

“Ah.”

“Mmm,” He continued, raising his head again, “Kouichi said that it was their first kiss. It got me thinking.”

“Totally natural.”

“Mmm...”

After a few moments of silence with Yoite still studying the scenery and Miharu watching his tea get cold, Miharu turned again to Yoite. “I haven’t had my first kiss yet.”

“I didn’t know.”

Miharu raised himself on his knees, and rested his arms on Yoite’s legs. “Yoite... would you be my first kiss?”

It was the second time that day that the Kira-user was left speechless, but after a couple of blinks he said, “Miharu?”

The fourteen year old placed his head on tops of his arms, and continued talking. “You are the only one I feel so closely connected to. And with not having a lot of time left... I want to keep as many memories of Yoite as I possibly can.”

“But I...”

Miharu could feel his heartbeat fasten. He raised his head, and got as close as he dared to the other’s face. The blue-eyed boy was stunned by the desperation he could see in his green eyes. “It has to be you. I want my first kiss to be only you.”

Yoite slowly raised his bare hand, and placed it on Miharu’s cheek. “Miharu...”

Neither of them said anything after that. Miharu gradually started to close up their distance. He closed his eyes, and could hear his heartbeat echoing throughout his body. It felt infinite, but finally touched Yoite’s dry and warm lips against his. They stayed like that for what it could have been hours, but were just mere seconds.

Miharu moved back, and stared at the close-eyed face of the sixteen year old. Yoite then opened his eyes, and stared back at Miharu without saying anything.

Miharu felt a small smile forming. “Thank you, Yoite.”

Yoite smiled back. “No. Thank you, Miharu.”

Together they watched the stars come into sight.

darth_sakura @ 2009-07-05T15:35:00

2009-07-05T20:38:45Z

Personalities and Such

2009-07-02T05:08:01Z

Here comes more rambling! Quick, run!

Here is a thought that I have been chewing (yes, chewing) these couple of days about the personalities that you see in the characters of Nabari no Ou. There was a question one day about what kind character you resemble because of their personalities, and it got me thinking of whom exactly I could relate too.

I am a very quiet person myself; mostly keeping my thoughts to myself, so I immediately thought of the main character of Nabari no Ou: Miharu. After a while, though, I realized that I am not like him for very important reasons.

Miharu is the quiet apathetic one (who reminds me a lot of Squall of FF VIII before he got screwed over by Rhina). Never really paying attention to what happens around him, and letting the days pass by without getting attached to anyone.

For an outsider, I am EXACTLY like that too. I am very apathetic of the things around me, and I never try to make friends. I just do the things I need to do, and mostly just be in my own little world.

It is actually kind of a miracle to me that I do have friends.

So the question here is, why do I think that I’m not like him?

It’s quite simple really. There are two major reasons for that. One: I have a tendency to, not only saying absolutely nothing, but also smile while doing so. I have been told that it completely freaks people out. Why though? I was just trying to be nice...

Second: I am also the kind of people who are very capable of making things awkward by nature. I do mean that. Here is an example of a conversation with an old classmate and her friends that I met a couple of weeks ago. It was going more or less like this.

Friend a: It was 8:00 P.M. and he still hadn’t called. I consider that very selfish of him.

Classmate: Totally.

Friend b: You should talk to him. I mean you won’t get anywhere if you don’t ask him straight on.

Friend a: Mmm... Maybe you are right.

Classmate: What do you think Nemy? You haven’t said anything all day.

Me: ... So you believe he is cheating on you.

Friend b: ...

Classmate: ...

Friend a: ... Er... Maybe is all a misunderstanding!

Classmate: Yeah!

Friend b: I keep telling you that you should try and talk to him.

Friend a: Yeah, I will.

Classmate: Ah! You’ll never guess what happened to me last week! I went to...

It is of no surprise to me that they never called me after that. I also thought it was an exaggeration her comment of me not talking all day, because, literally, I wasn’t with them all day.

This reminds me of the other day when I got a call from those kinds of companies that are always looking for someone who owns them money from something or so. It seemed that our phone previously was owned by one of those guys, and now these kinds of companies are calling all the time. Here is more or less how it went:

RING!

Me: Hello?

Woman: Hello?

Me: Yes?

Woman: Whom am I talking to?

Me: ... Who do you want to talk to?

Woman: I would like to know first whom am I speaking with.

Me: Okay, but. Aren’t you the one who called us?

Woman: Well, yes...

Me: Then you should know whom you are talking to.

Woman: Er...

Me: Don’t tell me that you are always calling someone on the phone without knowing who they are?! That is kind of dangerous you know?

Woman: Amm...

Me: I could be a psychopath that gets off from women who call my phone number.

Woman: ... I think that I got the wrong number...

Me: You got that right!

My husband always thinks that I say unnecessary comments; I think that I speak the truth as I see it. It reminds me of when I had my first job interview, and unfortunately I was, once again, too honest in my answers. You know how they ask you questions like “how much experience you have,” and “what makes you qualified for this job,” etc, etc. Here is how it went:

Interviewer: How would you describe yourself?

Me: I am very responsible and hardworking.

Interviewer: Okay, do you have a lot of experience doing this?

Me: Not so much, but I have always been a fast learner. I can learn the basics really quick, and keep going from there.

Interviewer: Very impressive. Okay. So why do you want to work here?

Me: Well... I have to start somewhere, don’t you think?

My husband was actually amazed that I had the guts (guts? That is just blunt honesty man) to say something like that. He was even more amazed that I actually DID get the job, but told me to be more of a “liar” in the job interviews from now on.

I still believe that some people value blunt honesty like that... I just haven’t met them yet.

You know how the “perfect” couples tend to finish each other’s sentences flawlessly? I am completely opposite. Not only do I interrupt (because you are actually interrupting) my husband’s conversations, I always finish his sentences completely incorrect.

Husband: After he said that, I actually thought-

Me: That he totally deserved to be completely sacked?

Husband: No! That he should have given him a change to actually explain his actions. Something must have happened for him to scream to the boss that way.

Me: ... I guess.

Husband: Please don’t interrupt me, okay?

Me: ... Fine.

Husband; So... I told him that, and he explained how he was getting divorced. His wife was cheating on him. Now she is planning to keep the children and move to Chicago with her new lover. After hearing all that, I thought-

Me: Thank goodness he is getting rid of the witch?

Husband: ... NO... that he needed a break. Why do you finish all my sentences wrong?

Me: Is much more fun that way...

This sounds like a normal conversation no? Now put this in front of his other coworkers on a family picnic, and then you will see the awkwardness of this moment.

I could say it is a gift? Curse? My husband long ago learned to not try to include me in a conversation. I don’t mind (I know how awkward I can be), so they pretty much leave me to my own thoughts during the conversation (meaning, I don’t have to pay attention to what they are saying).

I have been told by strangers that I just tend to “sit there and look pretty.” But that is because they have never heard me in a conversation before. If they knew, they would ask me too to do that.

I wonder if a character like that has appeared in the anime/manga world? Just wondering...

Thank you once again for putting yourself through this!

Ja ne!

"Remembrance"

2009-06-28T05:44:04Z

Title: Remembrance
Author: Darth Sakura
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Nabari no Ou, so... there... I said it.
Warning: Spoilers from chapters 50 and on.
Notes: OMG I am actually writing a fanfic here! I haven’t written one in years! Excuse my grammar mistakes and all cause I don’t have a beta-reader or anything. English is also not my first language, so please don’t be so harsh on me. Constructive criticism is always welcome though!
Summary: On this particular train, this particular scenery, is where Miharu would feel his heart tighten. Miharu's POV.

It would always be the same.

On this particular train, this particular scenery, is where Miharu would feel his heart tighten.

~0~

“Hey Miharu-kun! Good morning!”

“Good morning Kouichi, Raimei.”

“So Miharu! Are you ready for the New Year's festival?”

“Mmm...”

“This is so exciting! I haven’t worn a kimono in years.”

“This year seems to be bigger than last. There seems to be more food stands, and there are more... heh?”

“What is it Kouichi?”

“Miharu, I didn’t know you owned a dark trench coat before.”

“Now that you mentioned, yeah. It looks new.”

“I saw it one day in a store...”

“Oh, don’t worry Miharu-kun! I think it looks good on you.”

“I agree!”

~0~

It is like we are on a dream...

Those words, for some reason, would echo on his head over and over. His sight would blur, and he would feel the need to swallow air to get it to his lungs.

~0~

“Miharu, sometime this afternoon could you buy some katsoubushi? It seems we ran out.”

“Okay grandma.”

“Be careful out there okay? And don’t stay out too late.”

“I will. I’ll be leaving now. See you soon.”

“Take care! Mmm... I don’t know what’s happening to that boy. Well, he seems to be entering his teens with all those dark clothes he wears now...”

~0~

He always sits in the same place. Never too close to the window, but enough to still observe the landscape as the train passes by.

Miharu would then feel a shadow on his shoulder. So clear he could almost touch it, but, now matter how he reaches it, his hand always feels air.

He hangs his head, and bits his lip.

~0~

“Rokujou, are you cold? You seem to always be blowing heat to your hands.”

“How could that be Thobari-sensei? Spring is starting already.”

“My hands feel cold for some reason.”

“Well, you know. For some people their hands always feel cold no matter the temperature around them Raimei-san.”

“Really? I didn’t know that.”

“I’m thinking of getting some gloves.”

“That would be a good idea Miharu-kun.”

~0~

Thank you, Miharu.

He knows that he went through this train with that person. He feels it in his blood and in his skin. He keeps trying to reach for that memory, but he could just not remember.

Frustration drips from his eyes, and he gives a silent scream.

~0~

“Rokujou-kun! Hats are not allowed in the classroom. You know that.”

“I’m sorry Mamoru-sensei.”

“I will let it go for now, but please don’t let it happen okay?”

“Yes.”

“Did you see the hat Miharu-kun was wearing?”

“Kind of a funny looking hat, and the tan color...”

“And so big! I wonder if his brother-“

“Silence! We will start the class...”

~0~

“... id... kid... Hey kid!”

He blinks very slowly. “Yes?”

“We have reached Banten. It’s time to go.”

“Okay...”

“What's with that reaction? Man, this is why I hate brats...”

He puts his hands in his coat’s pocket, hugging or protecting, himself from the weather.

Miharu then leaves the sit very slowly, and starts walking towards the exit.

Good-bye, Miharu.

A life full of coincidences... or not

2009-06-28T05:42:03Z

I just wanted to comment in this entry something weird that happened to me these couple of weeks (or that I consider weird, maybe not...).

Before all this Nabari no Ou happened, I was also very hooked up with Kyo Kara Maoh (I hope you are all familiar with it, if not... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?). It’s the usual hint shounen-ai hint, but not exactly if you don’t want it to be. My favorite character of that series is Wolfram von Bielefield for the simple fact that I have never seen such a wonderful maturity develop in a character (it is 3 seasons, so he had a lot of time to grow really). His insistency on their engagement, dedication and love towards the Yuuri Heika (king) makes him adorable. Plus he is very very bishounen (beautiful boy). But after suffering (through 3 whole seasons) how Yuuri would just brush him aside, I simply decided to go to another anime, and relieve my frustration.

(Yes, this all has a point really!)

Then I came across what was Monochrome Factor. I have read some parts of the manga, so I pretty much knew what it was about. I just couldn’t believe that in the anime they made Shirogane be romantically interested in Akira when in the manga there is none at all. But well, having a little of shounen-ai of course I was going to watch it! And watch it I did. I enjoyed it really much except the parts where I felt like hitting Akira for treating Shirogane so poorly (resemblance to Kyo Kara Maoh again...)

After that I came across the anime of Kuroshitsuji. It kinda reminded me of Yami no Matsuei (descendants of darkness) with the whole Faustian issue of selling your soul to a demon in exchange for something. In Kuroshitsuji, Ciel (the protagonist) asks the demon for its help in his revenge for his family and heritage, and the demon becomes his butler. A very dark anime with a lot of violence, mistery, slight touch of comedy (if you have dark humor really) and repulsiveness (mostly focused on the angel *shudders*).

Finishing that, and by the insistence of a friend, I turned my attention to Ouran High School Host Club. I don’t really want to say anything about it, I really don’t. I guess, if you want to laugh at the stupidity of others, this is the anime for you!

Having completed it is when I saw Nabari no Ou, and I am pretty much sure you all know what happened. Saw it all, read it (can’t say all, not all is translated), loved it all and now can’t get it out of my head. My friends tried to help me with my new obsession by showing me a new anime called Hetalia Axis Power.

Being that a practical failure (Hetalia really is only 22 episodes for now, and each is five minutes, you can finish it within the day). I started to research more about NnO, and I must admit that ever since I heard Yoite’s voice something about it was like bothering me (Transamerica came to mind). Here is when I came across this very very weird coincidence. I found that the voice actor of Yoite is Mitsuki Saiga, and for some reason I wanted to see in what other animes she has been hired for too.

Not only is she also Wolfram von Bielefield (insert squeal here). She also appears in Monochrome Factor (as Haruka), Kuroshitsuji (Edward V), Ouran High School Host Club (Liberia’s leader), Nabari no Ou (Yoite) AND Hetalia (Iceland).

“OMG I’m following her career here! Next I would be watching Loveless!” No, it is sarcasm. I won’t watch that, the age difference is TOO much for me. Maybe Koutetsu Sangokushi, which I have seen is shounen-ai just to follow the trent.

Of course this could also mean that there aren’t really that many voice actors out there, who knows. But to have followed it exactly like that, and had the same voice actor in all of them was something shocking for me.

Have someone already noticed that there is an American voice actor for Yoite already? You all know what that means don’t cha? Of course I found out that he is male, and something about it just doesn’t agree with me. Being genderless, I felt like it was perfect to have a very deep female voice for Yoite. I don’t know, what you think?

Thank you all again for having survived my ramblings once again!

Ja ne!

Nabari no Ou (Manga)

2009-06-28T05:38:41Z

In this entry I shall be reviewing the manga of Nabari No Ou by Yuhki Kamatani. You are all warned that there might be spoilers, so read under your own discretion. Also, this is my own point of view. If you agree or not you can comment, but do not get mad at me for the way I think about the series.

I apologize if my ramblings make no sense to you. My thoughts are really all over the place, and I tried to write in a way that it is as coherent as possible.

Nabari no Ou

So after watching the amazing anime of Nabari no Ou, I knew I couldn’t pass the opportunity of reading the manga as well. The first thing I did was to find it online and read as much as I could of it (which is to say until Vol. 10).

At the beginning I had a few problems, not with the story per se, but with the drawings themselves. I am sorry to say but I liked better the animation than the mangaka’s drawings (stick figures... they are STICK figures...). After being able to overcome that (and believe me, it took a while), I was able to finally enjoy the story.

The beginning of the story in the manga is pretty much the same as the anime (if you really want to know, because I don’t want to repeat, the link to the anime review is to your right). I am happy to say that they based the anime pretty well to the manga (with their few difference here and there, but not any major ones).

I have to admit that the manga does not only enrich some of the most wonderful scenes in the anime. It makes the whole story BETTER.

Finally we get to know a little of the background story in all the characters, and we get to know them better, and answer some of the question that we might (or not) had with the anime.

We finally realize that, with Yoite, he does not have existentialist problems. His story is pretty messed up, and its no wonder to me that he ended up the way he did. It is actually a miracle that he is as nice as he is in the manga/anime. Being told that he was a shinigami (death god) since he was born, to actually be genderless, to be harmed (with a knife people...), and ignored (to the point of being non-existent) is pretty serious. No wonder it was so easy for him to learn Kira, and pretty much throw his life to the trash. It is kind of sad though that the only one who learned this was Yukimi right before Miharu “erased” Yoite’s existence. Miharu really never learned anything of the life of Yoite except some Sora’s character that one day Yoite mentioned while sleeping.

Also the whole Miharu/Yoite relationship is more developed than in the anime. You can see much more clearly how close they were to each other in the manga. The whole doubt in Miharu’s mind about making Yoite’s wish come true or not was deeply touching. Yoite trying to help Miharu even to the point that he was looking for him blind was also really touching. When they ran away from Hattori’s place Miharu’s hometown is really one of my favorite scenes in the manga. They behaved so similar to each other that it really supported my theory of them being soul mates.

Of course, unlike the anime, we won’t have a bittersweet ending with Yoite and Miharu when Yoite dies trying to protect Miharu from harm. By then it was pretty much obvious that they made each other happy just by being close (no talking was ever necessary). Yoite didn’t need to be erased anymore because he was happy to have meet people like Raikou, Yukimi, Miharu, etc. The only reason, he said, that he would need to be erased if it Miharu just can’t handle his death. Judging that by the next chapter Yoite disappeared we can conclude that indeed Miharu wasn’t able to handle his death well, and used the Shinrabanshou to “erase” his existence.

Deep deep down though Miharu really didn’t want to erase it, so the job was done kind of poorly. Miharu later on realizes that he “erased” someone’s existence, supported by Yukimi’s belief that he forgot something too, and ends up crying his eyes out. I will never forget that scene. I also can’t believe that Yoite already died, and is not even the end of the manga yet. A lot of people now are saying that Yoite has become now Yoite the cat (a cat that Yukimi adopts after the disappearance of Yoite). Other people believe that an anti-Yoite has appeared (by the appearance of a new character who seems to also be a Kira’s user, and its light-haired). I am few of the people that actually believe that Yoite is gone (GONE people), but will remain as a presence that will stop Miharu from using the Shinrabanshou again (*cries*).

He could also just be out in the world, and later on Miharu just sees him walking by.

Whatever it could become of Yoite, let us hope that the mangaka decides for something good, and it does not disappoints us with something that could have come out of a whim (yes... I am looking at YOU J.K. Rowling!)

We also come to realize that Yukimi cares a whole lot about Yoite. I mean in the anime he cares, but not enough to betray Hattori. In the manga he cares so much that he not only betrays Hattori, he also looses an arm while trying to help Miharu and Yoite escape from Kasa. The picture in the manga where Yoite and Yukimi are cooking in the kitchen is oh so cute.

Something that I am also very glad for is that the enemy is not really evil. There is no black and white in the manga. Hattori really believes that by erasing the history of the world, they could start with a clear state and there would be no more wars (never said anything about happiness). Unlike the anime, he does not hide what he intends to do with the Shinrabanshou, and (for now) was looking for the good of Miharu (didn’t reaaaaally care about Yoite) when he advised to not use the hijutsu for Yoite’s wish.

In the manga we also get to understand why, when the whole insident of Alya and looking for the kinjutsu of Daya, Kouichi hair resembled a lot white feathers. He was an owl! (a SNOW owl, please insert a HP joke here). Unlike I supposed in the beginning, Shijima and Kouichi haven’t actually had a lot of time as human beings, and actually explains why Kouichi isn’t that good of a ninja. We also learn that they shouldn’t be as trusted as we supposed at one point. They want to use the Shinrabanshou, and die once and for all.

Another good point of the manga... Raikou doesn’t die yay!!!

The best point of the manga? Are the side comics! I loved the scene when Yoite came to kidnap Miharu, and Miharu makes him wait by wanting to finish a problem from his homework before leaving (and Yoite actually agrees). Another one I loved is when Miharu and Yoite, while trying to hide between the bookcases in the academy of Alya, they got stuck, but neither of them wanted to cry for help.

Let us all just hope that the conclusion of this wonderful world of Nabari no Ou actually exceeds our expectations, and make us glad to have read it in the first place (not that I actually don’t expect that, but there have been cases in which I really regret having it read, example: Demon Diary).

I very much enjoyed the manga that I am also buying (to help support the mangaka and... you know... all the people behind it) it now that is being published in America. To be able to hug Yoite (even as a book) in my arms will be a dream come true.

Later, on another entry, I will explain why I put “erased” with the whole issue that happened to Yoite.

Till the next time!

Thanks for reading!

Nabari no Ou (Anime)

2009-06-24T18:35:16Z

In this entry I shall be reviewing the anime of Nabari No Ou by Yuhki Kamatani. You are all warned that there might be spoilers, so read under your own discretion. Also, this is my own point of view. If you agree or not you can comment, but do not get mad at me for the way I think about the series.

I apologize if my ramblings make no sense to you. My thoughts are really all over the place, and I tried to write in a way that it is as coherent as possible.

Nabari no Ou

I must admit that, before watching the series, I saw the teaser for it (and read the description on Wikipedia). It kind of sounded interesting, but I really wasn’t expecting much of it (maybe because I’m dead tired of the Naruto’s ninjas and their merchandise).

I started watching the series on YouTube, and I must admit that I was glad for the not-so-usual protagonist of the series (“King of Indifference” he is referred as). A lot of people didn’t really like his personality, but it was refreshing to see someone that really doesn’t want to follow his “destiny” and just wants to continue on with his normal life.
His destiny being King of Nabari (concealment, or you can think of it as the Ninja World) because inside of him he has a special hitjutsu called the Shinrabanshou (things of all nature), a power that pretty much can control everything in the world. The protagonist, called Miharu, pretty much answers to that:

“Okay, then I want it out of me.”

And the quests starts with how they can extract that power from Miharu, and seal if forever (so it doesn’t reincarnate in another body). The quest being that there were five group of Ninjas that had different hitjutsus (that once in the past they sealed the Shinrabanshou), and believed that by collecting all of those techniques they could create a new hitjutsu that could extract the Shinrabanshou from Miharu.

The series continues by starting to know their opposition (one of the group of Ninjas that pretty much want to use the Shinrabanshou for the “good of humanity”). A great impact was when we meet one of the opposite Ninjas, Yoite, who uses the hitjutsu Kira (a technique which uses their own chi (life source) and can kill your enemy instantaneously. The consequence of it is that you will shorter your life-span by a LOT). You first see Yoite as a quiet and powerful character, and assume that he will be the typical “you are not dignified enough for me to talk to you,” kind of guy. But all of these assumptions are shut down, when later on you see Yoite asking:

“Am I alive?”

Pretty much saying that, like any teenager out there, he has existentialists’ problems. This is also were I saw and expected that at one point in the series Yoite was going to die.

When Yoite finds the Shinrabanshou holder, Miharu, he seeks him out and threatens him to kill his friends if he doesn’t erase his existence before he dies. Meaning that he doesn’t want to die (he knows that he will die soon by the use of the Kira technique), but just wants to have never existed in the first place. Miharu, not having a lot of options, accepts the terms. Yoite then promises to help him become the King of Nabari by any means possible.

In this first encounter between Miharu and Yoite is where you realize how sick Yoite already is (by the coughing of blood and all), and reassures everybody (me) that he will indeed die/disappear at some point.

This is where it surprised me to no end, and where I believe that Miharu develops a Stockholm syndrome. Instead of the usual “you go your way, I go mine,” on their plan to make Miharu be able to use the Shinrabanshou, Miharu starts to develop a need to be with Yoite all the time. So much that he leaves his friends behind, and forms part of the enemy’s group. Of course Yoite was weirder out, asking why was he following him when he was the one threatening with the life of his friends for the sake of his own wish. Miharu then couldn’t really answer the question either.

And it continues on with the collection of the hitjutsus. Throughout this Miharu starts to realize that Yoite is very much like him, and starts to wish (instead of erasing his existence) to save his life, so they can be together always. The most beautiful thing about this friendship/relationship (depends on how you see it) between soul mates is that it goes beyond reason and expectation. They are like kindred spirits. You start to slowly see how Miharu wants to know more about Yoite, and even though the only thing he founds out is some character named “Sora,” he never leaves his side anyway. Yoite by his part starts to only trust Miharu, and protects him with his life.

Never have I seen such a wonderful development and interaction between characters. It’s touching and so realistic that you are almost expecting a bittersweet conlusion at the end. There is such a dependency and support between them that, when they get separated (very near the end of the series) by the enemy, it just HURTS.

By the help of their friends, they find each other again, and try to escape from enemy’s territory. Unfortunately they get captured again, and the enemy manipulates Miharu, drawing the Shinrabanshou out of him.

Very exciting climax to the series, and I kind of believe that the ending was also satisfactory for it (not perfect because that would have been for Yoite to be saved and live with Miharu forever really... but that is the shounen-ai fangirl in me). If you know the manga, this ending will make you sad/cry.

One thing that I really REALLY liked (besides the whole Yoite/Miharu interaction) was the second ending (from episode 16 and on), which also has Yoite/Miharu interaction (duh). It kind of surprised me to have J-country song in it (never heard one before...), but the scenes follow the lyrics of the song oh so beautifully. It just kinds of supports how wonderful of a relationship they have. I liked the song so much that I will even put the lyrics, so you can share the joy with me.

Under the pouring rain
You began losing yourself
Even if you took notice,
You would still feel content with being empty.
I will reach out with these hands
So please do not turn away.

I want to be by your side.
So please let me be close to you.
That’s how it is,
Just like that.
This is how I will live my life.

I will grip firmly onto your hand.
No matter where we are, we can take flight.
If we are together, we can map out the distance,
And that’s just how it is.

Which clearly depicts Miharu’s feelings towards Yoite and vice versa. The title of the song is “Aru ga Mama” (that’s how it is) by Anamu & Maki.

I was going to also review the manga of this series, but the entry has already become long enough. I will try to post it on the next one.

In conclusion, this anime is really a must watch (and if you haven’t, do it NOW). It may start slowly at first, but it just gets better and better as soon as both Yoite is presented in the series. It is only 26 episodes. Long enough to actually enjoy a good story, but not so long that you just want it to end. The animation is good (I actually liked them better than the manga, but they still remain to be stick figures...), and follows the manga pretty well until very near the end (the ending is totally different, and actually saves you from the heartache that the manga will give you).

I am very glad to have come across this anime, and I cannot wait until they sell the DVD this year. Believe me people, I will get it ASAP.

WATCH IT!

Thank you for your attention.

Ja ne!

Questions that you might ask...

What about the other characters?

I really don’t feel like writing about them. They are like side stories to the main story. I’m not saying that they are not important! But I do feel like the story really revolves around Miharu and Yoite (I tend to do that with any anime, and I apologize).

Would you consider this series as shounen-ai?

It depends really. I mean there are references that indicate that it is, for example when Miharu is told that Yoite is really more than a friend to him. The extreme closeness between Miharu and Yoite also indicate that. But you can also take it as a very good friendship. I think that they made it that way, so anybody can take their relationship as they want it to be. For me? It is shounen-ai.

Is there is something that you don’t like about the series?

Yes, there is actually. There is this character who is extremely useless and NAÏVE (you will know who he is). I just wished that they would have push him to the side and kept him there. He annoyed me to no end.

I can’t find all the episodes in YouTube, do you know where I can find them all?

Yes. Send me a comment with your e-mail, and I will send the link to you. Share the love!

Dragon Wars

2008-03-16T02:04:27Z

Hello everyone,

Finally, after months of not writing ANYTHING at all, I placed my big butt on a chair, and I told myself, "Myself! you better start writing something down, or I'll kill youuuuuuuu!" Well, to be actually fair it was an avatar of a plot bunny saying, "write me, bitch" what really drove me to write again... oh well...

And to really put me back to writing, I decided to review a movie that I 'enjoyed' a lot: D-War, Dragon Wars. I came upon this movie when my sister went to Blockbuster to rent a movie she needed for some class or something, and dragged me along. While I was trying to kill time, I noticed this movie on the shelves of movies that just came out on dvd. It was just there, looking prettily at me. I was amazed by not having noticed such movie before, because I'm pretty observant where dragons are concerned. No matter how big or small a dragon is, I will always find it. So to have found this Korean (Korean?) movie that actually appeared in the movie theaters while I had no clue about it, rather shocked me.

I saw that movie, and I said to myself, "you GOT to watch this..."

The next weekend I made my boyfriend (my beautiful ashke) rent it for me, and we went to watch it at my apartment.

I will give the review as I explain what the movie is about. If you have already seen the movie, GOOD (and bad) for you!! Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did (by bitching and complaining). The effects were great, weren't they? If you haven't seen the movie (what are you waiting for?), and don't want to be spoiled.... you should read it anyway....

This is how it started.

We heard the news of a rather strange (and obvious) creature that attacked the city of L.A. It left a trail that looked A LOT like one of a snake... a big snake (what could it POSSIBLY be?), and everybody was wondering what it could have been. Then our young hero appears as a reporter (his name escapes me, not that it matters to me actually, let's just call him hero, a sucky hero but a hero nonetheless). The hero was in charge of this scoop, and it kinda reminded him something that he heard when he was little. He goes back to his office and tries to remember what he was told when he was a boy.

We have a flashback.

Our hero is a boy and opens an special chest that gives him an amulet of a legendary hero from ancient Korea. The man in charge of the store, where the chest was, tells him he is the reincarnation of that legendary korean hero, who had a destiny of protecting the dragon girl before she gave up her spirit to the good Imoogi (Imoogi: dragon in Korean, oh yeah THAT I remember...) because a bad Imoogi wants that spirit too to cause war on Earth. When explaining this the movie takes us back to ancient Korea to meet the korean hero.

We have a flashback in the flashback (? Uhh.... ooookay)

We see the korean hero and his master together. The master reminds the korean boy about his destiny of giving the girl to the good Imoogi so there is peace on earth.

So we have a flashback in the flashback of the flashback (???? What the heck?)

The master appears before a Lord (?) who lost his wife at the birth of the little girl. When they explained how the Lord lost his wife, we have a flashback to the moment the dragon girl was born.

Okay what the fuck? NOW we have a flashback in the flashback inside the flashback of the flashback? that is just PLAIN INSANE.

The girl is born and the mother dies at conceiving birth. The maids discover a rather weird (dragon looking) tattoo on her shoulder.

Anyway to make this story short. They tell the Lord that her daughter is the dragon girl with the destiny of dying by giving her spirit to the good Imoogi and all that shit. Both the korean boy and the master protect the girl all her life, and (being the story pretty obvious) the korean boy falls in love with the girl and vice-versa. Let me remind you that there was NEVER a moment where someone told the girl what was her destiny, so she never knew what was supposed to happen to her. When the main moment comes and the bad Imoogi appears to take the spirit out of the dragon girl, instead of doing the right thing the korean boy takes the girl to escape (because he didn't want her to die) and end up both of them dying by throwing themselves to the sea. Stupid? Well DUH. And let's just not get me started with the flashback thingy. What the hell happened there? I get it when we have a flashback. Or even when we have a flashback in the flashback. But how the movie dealt with this part of the story was totally wrong! if you want to put a lot of detail on this Korean legend, then make the movie JUST ABOUT this korean legend! Why the hell are we in L.A. anyway? I just don't get thaaaaaat.

We get back to the present. The real present.

Suddenly we have scenes where the bad Imoogi (which I will start calling just plain dragon) appears at the zoo eating elephants. The guy in charge of the zoo finds the dragon and calls authority. He is dragged in and interrogated about the incident. They think he is insane because such dragon does not exist. I am like at this point, "okay, then WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE EIGHT ELEPHANTS THAT WERE EATEN!" and also, is it really possible for such a huge dragon to be seen by only ONE person? And this happens a lot where this huge dragon appears and only ONE PERSON SEES IT. I'm like, is anybody blind in this movie or what?

Our hero is by now (having remember all THAT) trying to look for the reincarnation of dragon girl. He finds her finally in a hospital thought to be contagious of a strange disease (her name is Sarah, and I still don't know why I do remember that name... maybe because they named her like million of fricking times! Oh and remember the tattoo? In the reincarnation it's practically on her breast...). Now they are being chased by the bad dragon. Now, NOW everybody has a clear sight of the dragon chasing two people (running) and... let me get this straight... the people outrun the fucking huge dragon? Well they got a point there, if the dragon out-chased them, they would have been eaten. End of movie... not bad. Okay back to the movie... they are able to lose the dragon, and are now found in the beach (why the beach? and why are they loosing time while the city is being destroyed by the dragon?). They fall in love and kiss. Oh yeah THAT makes sense:

"I have only known you for like 10 minutes, but I know that you are the love of my life."

"I have fallen for you too. Let's now waste more time while the city is being destroyed by having a meaningless kiss."

"Yeah let's do that, even thought I still have no idea why the dragon is chasing me."

"That doesn't matter, and I shall not tell you anyway."

"Oh, how dearly you love me."

They kiss.

Romance was not necessary in the movie. AT ALL. They could have cut the whole "falling in love" shit. It really didn't need it, and it was not believable. They go back to the city, and now the army of the bad dragon (composed of other kind of dragons) appear to attack the city. Funny thing of this part (besides that I enjoyed this part a lot, man... dragons can kick some ass!) is just that I have never seen a scene where the dragons looked more real than the helicopters. When the U.S. army brought the helicopters (why helicopters? Why not jets?) to fight the dragons, they looked so fucking fake it was hilarious. I couldn't believe my eyes that the special effects where more believable in the dragons than in the helicopters...pff.... what a laugh.

They escape (yet again) this disaster, and our hero decides (yet...AGAIN) that he doesn't want Sarah to die. So they run together to.... MEXICO. And now they are in Mexico driving. How the fuck did they get there so fast? At one point they were in L.A. the next in Mexico.... WHAAAAT? And more to the point, what is the case anyway? They will have to face Quetzalcoatl by the way this movie is going! But they get caught by the European dragons (part of the army of bad dragon).

They are brought to this... strange place where they put the girl on an altar, so she gets to be eaten by the bad dragon (who now I remember is called Buraki). When she is about to kill her, our hero screams really loud and the amulet (you do remember the amulet, don't you?) gives this power that destroyed all the army of Buraki. But Buraki recovers and he is about to kill the girl again when the good Imoogi appears to save the day! (TOOK YOUR FRICKING TIME). They fight and Buraki wins. Sarah by now has cached on what is happening and decides to give her life (and therefore her spirit) to the dragons. She dies... good. When the spirit is about to be devoured by Buraki, the good Imoogi awakes and takes the spirit instead. It then slowly starts to transform into a Chinese Dragon (Chinese? Was not this movie Korean to begin with?) and kills Buraki with fire (WRONG, they do not throw FIRE). The spirit appears (in sphere form) and gives some final bullshit conversations to the hero about how she will always remember him and all that nonsense. Then the chinese dragon takes the spirit and flies away. The movie ends with our hero lost in God's know where, walking away to dawn.

Have to admit thought... the Chinese dragon was beautiful.

So... after all this whining and bitching my boyfriend turns to me and says,

"Are you going to buy this?"

"Are you kidding?...... Of course!"

"I thought so..."

And got it the next day.

So yeah, there you have it. Pretty crappy writing and all. Trying to explain a story which is pretty crappy by itself... I really hope you understood something. This is just an outline of the movie, more stupidity appears inside the story as well in which you are going to say, "what the hell?" The effects of the dragons were great though, and if that alone makes you go to see this movie, then see it by all means. You already know what to expect anyway!

Hopefully from now on I will keep writing more, because I really need to get back to writing my stories and other stuff. I have procrastinated this waaaaay too long.

Thank you all.

Ja ne!

My First Post

2006-06-08T02:55:05Z

Well, this is my first post (and maybe my last one *shrugs*) since I have so many blogs right now, I don't know what to do with all of them! *cough* anyway, right now I'm school (yes... kill me now) in summer classes, and I just want everything to be OVER. Never, and I repeat, NEVER take summer classes. They are the worst. Anyway... gosh... that knife is looking so tempting.........

Before my ADD starts kicking in, I would like to say that I might be posting some of my stories here. I am not such a GREAT writer, but I have to admit that I do my best. I would love to have people read my stories, and if they want to help me get better at it, you are quite welcome.

Where the heck is my coke? I need my coke dammit! Oh! Before my forget! Everybody is invited to say whatever the heck they want to, even if its not related to my theme or post (I would say that the less related the better, at least that would amuse me enough not to kill myself this summer...)

Well, that would be all. Ja ne!