#akito's crying for goodness sake | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sakuraswordly · 10 months

Text

Suzu: When I travelled with them, as a ninja, I closed my heart and mind with the ninja technic. I learned about people's hearts and emotions and that being an adult came from many meetings and many partings. But Chester-san comfort me and said it was okay to cry.

Kohane: I've changed since Kimihiro-kun came into my life. Now I'm happy. That's why I want him to be happy as well. I have been able to sense a dark aura growing around my mother and am afraid that one day that aura may engulf her entirely. My mother focuses on having me on as many television shows as possible and buys large amounts of extravagant items. This treatment causes me to have a quiet and lonely demeanour, though I attempt to stay strong for her mother's sake, blaming everything on herself.

Chester: Wait.....and what happens to Kohane's mother........

Domeki: After we protected Kohane-chan on TV shows, her mother still stayed at the Hospital.

Falcon: What......? That's terrible.

Domeki: Most of the time Kohane's mother is seen on the phone arguing or rather bartering with TV producers on what she will get if Kohane will guest or perform an exorcism for them. She was in no condition to go anywhere by herself.

Watanuki: There's nothing has changed between Kohane-chan and her mother. Kohane-chan's mother still needs some time alone.

Kohane: Now I stay with Grandma while I wait for my mother to get to heal, she needs to be alone.

Suzu: If everything is over, I also need to return to my Ninja Village. I wish I would stay and be friends with Kohane-san a little longer.

Arche: Then why don't you join team Sphere huh? I can ask Akito to bring my two little girls to join with two extra boys.

Kohane & Suzu: Little girls...?(Blush)

Mokona(Black): What if she stays at Domeki's place instead? It's huge!

Watanuki: We already clear this! No!

Falcon: I don't mind if my mother said that.

Watanuki: Then we okay to take extra Domeki?!

Arche: What's your problem Watanuki?! At least you had more of your friends?!

Falcon: Domeki is not bad. He's also very good at archery like my father. I like him.

Domeki: At least I will be more reliable than you.

Watanuki: What?! Why you...!!

Chester: Watanuki.....at least he did help me back then.

Hikaru: Yeah unlike YOU doing weird movements and not helping at all! All you can do is guide the wrong way!!

Kamui: She's right. I agree with this one.

Yuko: With Domeki here, there's more of a chance for them to appear here!

Watanuki: It may be true, but.....

Cless: Chester....you really had a weird friend in here.

Watanuki: WHAT's that mean?!

Chester: Suzu-chan. Don't let the opportunity slip away.

Suzu: Are you sure?

Mint: Yes go on.

Fai: At least Suzu-chan don't end up like a big bad dog behind me.

Kohane: Suzu.......Suzu-chan.

Suzu: .........! Thank you so much.

Kurogane: Don't look down.

Chester: Huh?

Kurogane: Don't look down. If you have something you must do, then look forward. Remember what I said, kid?

Chester: I....remember....in Hashin....

Arche: ..........................

Sakura: At least I remember you, Arche-san

Arche: Yeah. And where is Syaoran?

Sakura: I wonder where he is too. I came to ask Arche-san but it seem you don't know too.

Mokona: Syaoran really must have wanted to share the journey with all friends we have here now.

Syaoran: Yes...also....with Chester-san now.

Mokona: Yeah..even he still does not remember us but one day he will.

Syaoran: Umm.......Dhaos-san, thank you for your mercy to Suzu. None of this happens because of your decision, you save my mother and my father too.

Dhaos: You should thank "Punch" for making this happen. It's not me who helps humans. I had my goals and would do anything to achieve them, with the ends justifying the means. Even I banish all Humans.

Syaoran & Mokona: Punch?

Syaoran: But then who saves my father and my mother and can make Cless-san's group, Fai-san and Kurogane-san come to this world? And what happened back then after I took Sakura.

Dhaos: I am just the prince and leader who led his people with a vision of peace and prosperity. I can't tell. I don't have power like my friends Clow Reeds and Yuko have. I don't know what the golden king did but it turns out it's okay.

Syaoran: The golden king.......! Can you tell me what is his name?

Dhaos: Are you sure you can trust me after you heard how evil I am?

Syaoran: Yes. Cless-san, Fai-san, Kurogane-san and Morrison-san told me about you but they said you are doing it to save your plant and Yggdrasill and the Spirits of Aselia from dying. You have no choice too. I understand.

Dhaos: Very well. His name is....................

Source Character:

Kohane Tsuyuri (五月七日小羽) is one of the supporting characters in the Clamp XxxHOLiC series. Her first name in kanji is translated as "small feathers" and her last name literally means May 7th. Kohane is a powerful exorcist; she is first introduced in the ninth volume of the manga. She is best friends with Watanuki, Doumeki and Himawari.

Suzu Fujibayashi (藤林すず) is an optional protagonist in Tales of Phantasia. She is the granddaughter of Ranzo Fujibayashi, current chief of Ninja Village. Though young, she has been trained in the way of the ninja her entire life, and is next in line to be chief. She is an non-playable character in the original Super Famicom version of the game. However, in all subsequent versions, she is recruitable if her sidequest is completed.

Explanation 8(Analysis)

Suzu: Father... Mother... Suzu will not cry anymore. These tears shall be my last, Suzu will become an honorable ninja!

The future Chief, Suzu knows the price of betrayal and sets out to try to convince some wayward ninja to return back to the Village and stop serving Dhaos. Her father and her mother change because Dhaos's minion, after capturing our companions, brainwashed them into this personal army. Suzu changes to cold and unfeeling, often brought upon by her attempt to adhere to the ninja ideal of masking one's emotions. The same go to Kohane as well. Her mother wants to take revenge on her father for making Kohane become famous on tv. Kohane needs to be strong to change or save her mother from a happy girl to cold and unfeeling. "Brainwashed" also happens to Kohane's mother as well but not like Suzu's parents but because she did it by herself. Those who wish harm on others will wish harm to themselves just like Kohane's mother. Despite it all, Kohane cared for her mother and was hoping that eventually she would actually come around and start wishing for the same thing she did. But she didn’t, and so she had to look for a chance to change the circumstances.

Suzu: I also wished to ask the same. I am deeply indebted to you all. I would like the chance to return the favour. Until now, my mission has always been to find my parents, but that matter is now closed. I may be a burden on you at first, but from now on, I want to do everything I can to help. Although, it may be a little much to say it is for the sake of this world...

Suzu is still a little girl and the wish...keep wishing like Kohane that her father and her mother will be alright the same way to Kohane as well for her mother to stop but in the end, Kohane couldn't stop it so she waited for her chance.

In this scene, her mother uses her child to be famous and turned her fame into power to take revenge on her husband. When Kohane targets her mother. She was so anxious that she would lose all power.

The result is in the end they can't because their parents did it by themself so it's too much burden for only a little girl to change them. That's why Suzu and Kohane become best friends and very deep bond in Tsubasa of Phantasia. Therefore, when adults tell each other not to interfere in adult affairs because we are not strong enough to carry this burden.

In Tsofph season 1 story contains spoilers

Kohane's story continues to this chapter before Cless's group come to xxxholic world. Chester and Syaoran together stop Kohane's mother with Watanuki and Domeki.

And help to comfort and take care of Kohane for a while.

Source: Link(「君と僕とで歩む道」　ファルケン×すず) and テイルズ・オブ・ファンタジア―魔剣忍法帖

As Suzu's story, Suzu and Falcon bond a lot and from what is in this book(Link) ship them really hard.

After Cless's group come to xxxholic world, Suzu shared her story for her first friend, Kohane. When Cless's group take a tour of xxxholic world and help Chester to recover his memories. Suzu spent time with Kohane, Falcon and Domeki. Dhaos told Syaoran that Suzu in Future Timeline is just a fracture timeline that doesn't exist so if anything happens to Future Timeline. If we need to defeat the fake Dhaos in Future Timeline, Suzu will vanish forever. (Spoiler: Suzu is fractured Dimension Syaoran and Sakura's child. Her father and her mother are Syaoran and Sakura. That affects happens because Chester and Arche were born into this Aselia world) That's why Cless's group let Suzu spend time with Kohane, Falcon and Domeki for a while.

#sakuraswordly #analyze the characters #character analysis #Suzu Fujibayashi #Kohane Tsuyuri #tsofph season 1 spoilers

2 notes · View notes

queensharotto · 1 year

Text

Translating NORN9: Akito’s Story

Welcome Back to “Translating NORN9”, the series where I translate NORN9 related content. Today it involves, not really a surprise to those who know me: Akito Shukuri. Let’s begin: Oh, and uh… Var Commons Spoilers

Page 1

Story

Akito is a person who is grumpy and blunt towards everyone, especially towards Nanami. Nanami notices Akito and chooses to pair with him. The secret of their seemingly inexplicable relationship was in the past, long before they boarded the Norn.

"What are you doing...! You!"

Nanami fell through the hole in the wall and was thrown into the sky, but Akito quickly grabbed her hand. Knowing her abilities, Akito knows what it's like to touch her. Still, Akito never let go of her hand.

“I just… I don't want to know you anymore”

No matter how awful things were said, Nanami never left Akito. Because that's what she, who stole something important from Akito, can do for him. Nanami has always hated her abilities and blamed herself. Akito didn't want to know Nanami any more, and told her to break up the pair with the kindest and mildest words of rejection she had ever heard.

“What are you doing?! Let me go!”

Akito, whom she encountered in her dream, had ears and soft fur wrapped around his neck for some reason. Nanami, who was still sleeping, pushed Akito down, saying, "This is a dream, so you don't have to worry about it" and savored the softness of the fur to the fullest.

Page 2

“I… I don’t you’re all that bad”

In the dream, Nanami, who was about to be killed, did not resist at all. Nanami wakes up from her dream with the help of Akito. Akito visits the room and hugs Nanami painfully and asks, "Are you okay being killed by me?!" Upon her asking, "What should I do?" He doesn’t answer her question and leaves her room, leaving only the feeling of his embrace.

“I’ll force you to be mine. Are you really okay with that?”

Nanami was with Akito to make amends for the past. Considering what she had done, she can't help but do anything to him. However, before he knew it, Nanami had confessed her honest desire to be by Akito's side. When Akito hears this, he swallows the feelings for her that were rising to his throat and simply tells her to “wait a little longer.”

Page 3

“It was bad to be alone”

Akito visits Senri's room in the middle of the night to show off his abilities. Akito, who originally did not have an ability, had taken away some of Senri's abilities. And now transfer all of Senri's abilities to himself. Senri, who has no memory of his brother, went to sleep feeling happy that night, realizing that he’s no longer alone. With nothing he can do for his brother anymore, Akito asks Nanami to erase Senri's memory.

“Don’t run, you idiot”

Seeing Akito suffer from the recoil of taking all of Senri’s abilities, Nanami begins to cry. Nanami remembers Itsuki's words that non-power users will die if they have powers. Seeing Nanami shed tears for his sake, Akito confesses that he likes her and kissed her many times to express his feelings for Nanami.

Page 4

“It will be okay, I’m not going to die.”

Ever since he took over Senri's power, Akito's health hasn't been good and Nanami has been worried. One day, when the two were talking on the roof of Norn, ivy suddenly appeared with murderous intent. Akito tries to fight off using his abilities. Silencing Nanami with a kiss as she begged him not to use his abilities, Akito created water and repelled the attacking ivy.

Story Keywords

Brother

The fact that Senri is Akito's younger brother is never revealed in the Senri route. However, as the saying goes, "I felt lonely because there was someone by my side all the time" Senri's empty loneliness is confirmed by the memory of his brother's existence.

Ability Transfer

Abilities can be transferred to basically anyone. However, if you don't know how to do it, you can't do it. Of the current members, Akito only knew what he had heard from Aion and that Itsuki had inherited his abilities when his sister died.

Page 5

"Why... do you like me?"

With Masamune's ability, Akito and Nanami go 6 years into the past. On her father's orders, Nanami erased Senri's memory of his cherished older brother, Akito. Frustrated with his weakness for not being able to protect his younger brother, Akito spent his life blaming himself. Nanami tells Akito, who is about to sacrifice himself, that she wants to be with him from the bottom of her heart, not out of guilt. Akito felt like he was finally able to forgive himself after being called "good" instead of "liked".

Akito’s Happy Ending and Normal Ending

"Somehow, I feel like I just got attacked by you."

Akito's physical condition was getting better. When Akito finishes eating the porridge, Nanami complains. To call her by her name, but Akito doesn't call her by my name. While repeating the question of not calling her by name, the two enjoy the time between lovers. The two of them heard a knock echo in the room.

Page 6

“I’m not embarrassed!!”

When Nanami opened the door, Senri and Koharu were standing there. Nanami didn't erase Senri's memory. Akito and Senri walk up to each other, with the former embarrassed. Senri told his brother, who he loved so much, that he had a lot to talk about.

Akito’s Tragic Love Ending

“I'm glad I was able to save the village and Senri..... With this... you can finally rest”

Returning to the past, Akito deprived Senri of all of his abilities and created a large amount of water to moisturize the village. Akito, who is smiling brightly at saving the false village and his brother, refusing to return. Nanami, who chose to stay with Akito, who was trapped in a false past, vowed to stay by Akito's side until the day came when she could forgive her.

#norn9 var commons #norn9: norn+nonet #translating norn9 #norn9 #shukuri akito

1 note · View note

papers4me · 3 years

Text

Fruits Basket, Se3, ep11 (part 1)

Breaking toxic bonds & accepting healthy ones isn’t a miracle. A bond that started with love could end up chained & toxic, another that started wrong could’ve become the joy of a life time. You can do it. Break the cycle of abuse & stand up for yourself, it is easy yet so difficult, you aren’t alone, tho, loved ones stand nearby cheering. Be kind on yourself, otherwise you’ll throw your life away. Life isn’t just happiness & joy, it’s also sadness & loneliness. Break free from the shackles that held you down. Embrace life & Live.

-Tohru’s “ I’m okay” mask is finally shattered! (the Importance of kyo’s rejection for her development):

This is the last part of tohru’s character development! The last few eps were abt her role in Akito’s redemption & their similarities. she staood up for herself & choose a path away from her mom while keeping her mom’s memory in a healthy manner. No more planning my life according to mom’s wishes, no more talking to mom ‘s picture 24/7. Now, I’ll plan my life & move forward even if it is with the guy mom said she cant forgive. even If it is without him, I’ll move forward. I love him so much, yet I won’t force our bond & let go. So easy yet so difficult!. tohru doesnt know anything abt kyo after her fall. All she remembers is his heart-broken face as he wept beside her. Those tears on his face, she caused them. He cried cuz it is too painful to see her hurt. She was a burden to him! tohru restored to her old coping mechanism of pretending “ i’m Okay” & smiling. She did so numerous times before. Always worked. No one noticed. Except him. Se02, ep7. he urged her to show her true fears. Now, she’s faced with a pain so big she can’t pretend no more. the pain of loosing him. She cried in front of yuki! The smile & chatting abt chores couldn’t conceal the running tears! Yuki’s first time seeing her like that. Se01, ep14, yuki wondered how could tohru smile after her mom’s death. She can’t pretend no more! She’ll have to wear her feelings on her sleeve! cuz it IS ok to do so! She tells kyo to give her a moment to compose herself. She couldn’t lie & pretend like she did with yuki. Here she either run away or just try to compose myself! I LOVE THAT! This way, whenever kyo/tohru fight or have any misunderstanding in the future as a couple, you’ll know tohru won’t just bear it & pretend, “ i;m okay” No! she’ll talk to kyo & express herself! I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! It gives her so much strength as a human & I’m happy all the obstacles & set backs in kyo/tohru’s romantic journey has led them to be better ppl little by little to build healthier & more realistic love!

-The mechanics of writing a compelling slow-burn romance:

1. Igniting the romantic feelings slowly: Slow burns don’t work with love at 1st sight. It must first sparkle naturally, slowly & subtly. Both kyo & tohru repeatedly stated they don’t know exactly when they first fell in love. The author’s decision to create an environment where the two live together is a genius way to start & nurture their romance quietly & subtly. Kyo was tricked to stay in shigure’s house while tohru had to stay cuz she had no home, Natural reasons that force the two to spend days together & get to know each other gradually.

2. Dynamics of their personalities: For slow burns to work, the two characters need to be similar yet opposites! Kyo & tohru are both kind, endearing, innocent, good at chores, independent & hardworking. They both have history with their mothers that is filled with love yet traumas. However, tohru is calm yet prefer maneuvering around subjects, can’t stand up for herself, reads ppl easily, tends to trust ppl easily & disregard herself. Kyo is fierce, strong, tends to distrust ppl, despite ppl loving his spontaneous character, he has hard time figuring out if they’re mocking him or teasing him, very straightforward with his words & actions. The similarities helps them understand each other, however, the differences creates chances to clash & come even closer thro various situation. Ex, se01, ep2, kyo apologizing for hitting her head with the table which created the situation where she needed to confess she always loved the cat zodiac! It is HER gush of emotions that struck kyo. ppl really want my friendship? the cat is loved? Thro those difference they learned to better themselves so they won’t hurt the other, kyo toning down his anger for her, tohru desiring to know him even more as he becomes even more awkward.

3. Creating natural, realistic & convincing obstacles that prevents them from being together: This is the most important part! Slow-burn is two characters in love & cant be together despite everyone wanting them to be! if the reason that stops them from uniting is trivial, stupid, one-sided, can easily be solved, then the slow-burn would be a fillery & no one would cheer for it! Takaya-san is a genius!

Kyo can’t be with tohru cuz he thinks (a) he killed her mom! we saw thr flashback, he could’ve saved her & couldn’t save her. It was a split of a second difference & he hates himsef for NOT trying! that split of a second also prevented from thinking of better ways to save her than holding her! it happened to fast, he couldn't think of a better alternative cuz this was his 2nd time loosing someone (b) his mom’s sucide being pinned as his fault created this immense guilt & defeated feeling that “ no matter what, I just cause death & misery! There’s (c) too!, he knew tohru! thinks she deserves the world & cuz he didnt save her mom, he watched tohru talk to a freaking picture for two years! heck! he is the only one who can see thro tohru’s “ i;m okay” mask, so in se01, ep 14 in the grave yard! kyo wasnt the only one who is sad! tohru was too! & kyo could tell! (d) her mom’s death is the reason tohru is accepting shigure’s offer to stay with them rent-free in exchange of doing housework! (e)? he saw her confess crying her heart out abt missing her mom so much that she imitated her dad! so tragicly sad! (f) he saw her die in his nightmare!! how can he accept her love,now? Perfectly orchestrated obstacles!

Tohru, unfortunately, in the anime it wasn't that clear due to shortening her backstories & trauma in se03, ep6. But she too couldn’t see herself confessing love to kyo. Tohru is has low self-esteem, always thinks she’s a burden to others, an orphan who just wants her mom, so scared, lonely & sad! we the audience believed the mask! we saw her work her motherly charm yuki, isusuz, kisa & believe her issues are not that deep. tohru wont cry for herself but shed rivers for others! grief is so ugly it broke her! I cant let go of mom, must keep her always in my heart, such a hard emotions to write & I believe 100% the director couldn’t understand her grief & decided to split ep6 between her, kyo, isuzu & shigure. But Tohru struggling to confess to kyo is no laughing matter. ppl who are grieving find it the hardest to live after the loved ones die. they wont mostly commit suicide, they are alive, but they arent living. they just go thro the motions & live for the sake of those around them but not themselves. Tohru deciding to confess to kyo is her deciding to live for herself.

4. Writing a perfect psychologically & emotionally packed climax: I dont need to explain how perfect kyo’s rejection of tohru in se03 ep9 was. How much we felt for him yet were mad at him. He we were “ ugh! kyo no!!!! I mean I get why you do that , but you idiot no! come back! poor kyo! He was just so sad & broken! OMG he’ll kill himself after finding tohru’s injured body!! he totally would! his nightmare came true! But Tohru reached him! she wanted him to be okay! he wont kill himself but still feels hella guilty! but so utterly in love with her that his instinct upon seeing her come to life after near death is kiss her! Perfect display of psychology & emotions! filled with right, wrong, sad, happy, guilty, innocent! basically so human~ As the audience you MUST have this mixture of feelings of wanting to hug him so bad cuz this boy has been killing himself for years now yet want him to stop & just see that he was a good boy afterall. Tohru is THE best girl & if the audience are cheering for kyo to be with her, kyo really deserves her! The only problem is for kyo to see that now.

5. The Perfect wrap up of all romance: If you make your audience suffer the slow-burn this long, you gotta reward them good! & Takaya-san delivered! Just like how the entire romantic story is realistic, the reunion must be as realistic too! Tohru is hurt by kyo;s words. Facts remain his words were hurtful to her. I love that was addressed! tohru gets to tell her side, too! If you love someone, you are bound to be hurt by them as much as be happy with them. Simply cuz they matter so much to you! you arent one person, but two ppl coming together. Kyo must work hard for this confession. Must run & chase her. Must earn her proper! He gets on his knees, I cant express how important that is! he is way taller than her, Imagine apologizing while she looks way up & he looks down? He gets on his knees & apologize like a man, for every mistake, all while not loathing himself. He aint going back to that deep abyss again. He did wrong by her & he is owning up to his mistakes. Give me one chance. I’m not gonna force you with persistence or guilt you into taking me. Give me ONE chance cuz i deserve it & no more. The choice is yours. She asks to confirm, he shows her, they kiss, they hug, they are rewarded with a blessing from the heavens! One of the most simple yet emotionally fulfilling confessions in anime!

- Hugs over kisses: (And her kiss hugs her & the curse was lifted):

Prince charming kisses the princess & she wakes up~ they live ever after~ except furuba is all abt “ eternal ever after is not true, real life is where the real love is”

Kyo kissed tohru once, she didnt wake up, she didnt even think he loved her back. didnt even remember the kiss.

Kyo hugged tohru once. se01, e024, He initiated it, tohru was all in tears, surprised, happy & so utterly in love. he called her name for the first time ever, for a brief moment, they both connected, they both comforted each other. The rain stopped, he became a man not a monster, she got him back. She got her kyo that she fought for with none other than kyo himself.

kyo hugged her again, se03, ep6. They both initiated it. He made the first move, pulling her just a little closer, she made the second move & hugged him hard, he transformed, it was a moment were they both connected, both so sad & broken, both feeling needy for the other, both desperate for the other, both just living the moment. the result is them coming closer, her wanting him more, him realizing her love, there is no escape. Admit it. she loves you. You can tell.

Kyo hugs her again today. He asks permission. No spur of the moment feeling. But a long lasting permission to be together. To hug. He wants to hear her acceptance of his cursed body. “ is ok to hug you? this body will cause you pain as it wont be able to fulfill your wishes of constant hugs & intimacy”. She responds, permission granted, for love, for hugs, for a life long acceptance of you as a whole. weakness & strength, sadness & happiness. I accept you all in better & worse! we’re invincible. Why? cuz we understand love isnt magic. It is a path for us to walk together~~~ reward curse break!

Every time kyoru are closer it is a hug. The one thing the zodiacs cant do. A hug. They can kiss. But cant hug. comes this Zodiac Ruler girl so lonely, away from ppl, so sad, meets a cat boy who comes to the house she’s living in, a house away from ppl, the boy is drawn to the girl, However, when the boy needed to leave, the girl was able to let go despite loving him, the boy comes again, this time wanting to stay, the girl accepts the boy. They both accept the realistic reality of life. Embrace the obstacles & the achievements, celebrates the weakness above the strength. Both so imperfect. Both so endearingly dumb! that’s why the girl’s hug broke the boy’s curse. The girl’s acceptance of the cat broke all curses.

Side Note:

Kyo’s confession is so kyo! so straightforward, so direct, & so physical. He’s on his knees, holding her hands, looking at her eyes. “ i want to be WITH you. If I’m gona live, I want to to do it with you & no one else! cuz I love you” that’s it. That’s all. So sincere & so romantic!

it is crazy how different tohru & kyo are now after the confession! she stood confidently & happily & said “dont you know, I love you!” all while teasing him, her giggle is so girlish & cute! my girl is a happy woman in love! long buried the angelic mother image of se02! YES! also, kyo’s happy face is love! Dude! when was the last time he smiled so freely? Did he ever do that? He smiled in se01, ep4 with kazmua, but not like this! T_T. my son is healing~

Kyo’s “ i wont ever feel afraid if you’re with me” is a huge growth from his “ I want to protect her” mindset. Now he realizes it is two-sided mutual desire. She gives him strength as much as he does! <3

I dont like open eye while kissing, but here it is so perfect for tohru in this moment! cuz she spent days thinking kyo rejected her & even ran away as soon as she saw him, now he’s not only confessing, apologizing, admitting she is his life, but also kissing her signaling they’re romantic couple. kissing on lips is so personal, what more evidence she needs? still, her thoughts? “ it’s like a dream?” aww~~~ tohru~~~ my precious girl! she just cant believe all her suffering is over, now? She was just practicing “ i’m okay” smile & now she’s an official girlfriend to the man of her dreams? He just bent da kneeee~ go for it queen!

yuki’s face when tohru cried is exactly what I meant of “ allowing yuki to have strong facial expressions”! XD these types of faces humanize yuki so much into the teenage boy he is! Unfortunately the anime team only sees him as the pretty prince in most times. That’s why fave yuki is when he’s with kakeru. He becomes so un-princly as he should be.

Speaking of yuki, I see you anime team~ postponing his moment into next ep so him & machi wont be overshadowed by the long awaited kyoru!! While this defies the perfection of all cursed zodiacs breaking on the same ep making akito’s breakdown less perfect & poetic, I take it as the anime team admitting they underdeveloped yuchi & decided let’s give them more screen time & not putting them in close distance from any couple. A week later ep is enough with lots of time. I dont mind at all, I’m just saying more time after/while confession is not what i was hoping for~~ sigh~ At least I hope yuki would say sth along the lines” all this time I was looking at you, i realized i love you” to imply he was thinking of her as a lover not his kindness for someone he helped. I just dont want their love to be sudden simply cuz yuki needs happy ending. oh well~ I’m sure whatever it will be, the anime will give it utmost attention.

That sad moment when kagura wasnt allowed a moving image. lol. girl was given a still image that didnt even move with the breeze! T_T

Not gonna lie... the scene with kazuma & kyo was underwhelming. Why the wide shot? I mean you dont need budget for that. Just give me a closeup from the waist up with kyo head buried in kazuma’s chest. Dont need to waste budget on kazuma’s face, either.... do the old trick of hair covering eyes & show me glittery tears~ why the awkward shot of kazma towering in his own house! how tall is this man & why cant he he fix his roof?...lol

Also, shigure, you got scars man... who can hurt shigure? akito? gotta be her. I dont think hatori scratches...lol.. Aya? nah~ too busy with Mine! yup, akito... another steamy night? could be, she’s changed as he wish now. But scratching a face is weird while..um..kissing? a quarrel? but why? I bet she wants him now & we know he wants her....

More on part 2! especially abt the curse’s lore~

#Fruits Basket #Anime Only #happy paper #final season #part 1

48 notes · View notes

yellowbluemoonshine · 3 years

Text

Fruits Basket; Writing Criticism

Thanks for the ask, @a-ymoon .

Critiquing writing is important because in order to write a good critique you need to critically read: that is, you need to closely read and understand whatever it is you are critiquing, you need to apply appropriate criteria in order evaluate it, you need to summarize it, and to ultimately make some sort of point about the text you are critiquing. (Source)

Before i start, i need to say that criticism is necessary for readers and even for writers cause it lead us to think what we actually read, it help us to think critically and it can improves us. Every story has its own flaws and now, lets look at problems with the Fruits Basket’s writing under the cut.

1- Selflessness or Self Sabotage?

I think this is one of the biggest problem in this story. It shows with a story that called Foolish Traveler. Its about a boy who lets people to take advantage of him, to the point he will let them hurt himself, he will sacrifice himslf for the sake of others. Momiji says he doesnt rthnik he is fool, he views him as admirable person. This same trait is shown especially with Tohru and Kureno. Kureno who neglects his own desires, freedom for the sake of crying girl and Tohru who neglects her own needs to help others.

Now lets continue why this framing is bad.

Its because there is a difference between being selfless and being self destructive.

Most of the time, helping should be a win-win endeavor—you should feel good about working to give someone else a leg up. If your helping efforts are more draining than inspiring, see if you can find another helping situation that adds to your life satisfaction.

And as psychologist Susan Newman points out, you shouldn't feel bad saying “no” to someone's request if helping will cause undue strain—mental, financial, or otherwise. While leading a selfless life is one of the greatest gifts you can give others and yourself, you need to foster your own well-being at the same time. (source)

We saw that Tohru helping people during the series but you can also eaiesly see that she lets other people to treat her as she is less, with the name of kindness. Like, how she keeps apologising for the things she had no fault or how she cant even say no.

What starts as a genuine desire to make a difference in others' lives can sometimes morph into pathological giving, leaving us feeling wrung-out or resentful—or even hurting or offending intended recipients. (source)

Especially this part really explains Kureno’s sitution. How his desire to help someone evenually turned into something toxic and unhealthy. Its because he neglected his own needs and end up enabling Akito’s self destructive behavours and made condition worse.

Tohru doesnt go far as Kureno, there are times she stand out for herself and others too but you can see that when they act like this, they are not being kind or selfless, they are being self neglectfull. And this part of them is shown as good thing by story.

Not just those two, you can see this with other ‘good’ characters. For example;

When we heard Hatori’s story, Momiji specifically talk about the part how Hatori didnt blame Akito for it and its the part that Tohru felt sorry for him the most because he takes care of everyone but he neglects his own needs.

Then we hear Akito and Kureno’s story. Even though, traumatized kid in story is Akito but story empathize with Kureno the most because he sacrifice himself for other people, again this is the part Tohru felt sorry for him the most.

Or with Yuki who choose to not blaming anyone or Rin who try to make Haru free, instead of herself etc etc. Every time, a character neglects their own needs for the sake of others, story tells you that this character is really doing their best or they are very kind people.

Yes, story also says that ‘sometimes its okay to think about yourself’ or ‘its okay if you dont force yourself this much’, basically it says that its okay you dont neglect your own needs but this is literally condracts with what story shows.

I will give a simple example to explain this;

For example. You really wanna be good person, like really wanna do your best, helping people, being extremely kind person is your desire. Then, you start neglecting your own needs and you are suffering in deep. Then, your mother realizes this and say ‘its okay, you dont have to do this, you can be very kind person while still taking care of yourself’. Then you learn self worth and you dont ever neglect your own needs but your sibling is doing the things you used to do. Your sibling is neglecting his own needs for the sake of helping others and people around you praise him for it. They says ‘your sibling is doing his best’ but you did your best too. Didnt they say ‘its okay to care about yourself?’ Didnt they say ‘you can still be equally kind’ but then, why they praise your sibling for his self neglect and treat him like he is somehow more hardworking than you.

Just like this story, characters says its okay to think about yourself but then treats people who self destructs as the kindest people ever exist.

When you say ‘oh they do their best, she really does her best, she even self destructs, she thinks about others too much, what a kind person’, When you praise someone for their self destruction or self neglect, at the same time you are literally saying ‘thinking about yourself/having self worth makes you less good person’ Which is far away from truth.

The problem with this kind of framing is its making self worth look as bad or less good. If Tohru says she is dirty for thinking about yourself, then it also means that she thinks people who think about theirselves is dirty too which is very insulting.

2- Parallels and Comprasion between abuse victims

This part is connected to first part actually.

In any narrative, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character; typically, a character who contrasts with the protagonist, in order to better highlight or differentiate certain qualities of the protagonist.[2][3][4] In some cases, a subplot can be used as a foil to the main plot. This is especially true in the case of metafiction and the "story within a story" motif. (source)

Usually, in stories, author makes parallel characters to explain their story and character better. You can look at those parallels to understand them better but i think author didnt do well because it resulted with making one abuse vcitims look good cause they react their abuse with socially acceptable way while other ones look bad cuse they didnt react their abuse with socially acceptable way. I am talking about the unfair comprasion between Yuki, Rin, Kyo, Tohru and Akito’s trauma.

For example;

- Yuki reacts his trauma with shutting himself down from world. Why exactly he choose this way? Its because he was powerless against his god and adults in clan. He was treated as tool who just has to obey, he realize his words don treach out to his mother so whats the point of talking?

Will story tell Yuki that he doesnt have to aplogise from Hatori for blaming him? Nope.

- Rin who self destructs and isolates herself from others cause she thinks she is unworthy, she is psyhcially abused by her parents so badly to the point violence triggers her.

Will anyone tell Rin that asking for help isnt using someone’s kindness? Because of the line Rin said, some people said Akito was using Kureno's kindness which is ridicilous.

- Tohru who force herself to smile and please people around her, this is how she deals with her fear of abandonment

Will anyone tell this girl that sacrificng yourself is NOT kindness but nope.

I used to say that having black white mindset is Rin’s flaw but thats not actually true. Yoıu can see this in every character, how they look down people who acts ‘self centered’ or how they admire poeple who neglects theirselves. This is jut how author write her story.

All those ‘good’ characters is being compared against Akito’s trauma. Why Akito react differently? Why she didnt force herself like Tohru, why she didnt self destruct like Rin, why she didnt shut herself down like Yuki?

I think many people dont seem to understand how mental health and trauma works. Her position and her trauma is whole different them. Of course, all those characters would react differently. One was stuck in room to listen, one was beaten so badly, one was expected to be good girl and Akito who was groomed to be god.

For beginners, giving impossible expectations to a child is abuse. Sayind that they are special, born to be loved, they are god’ is abuse. Why its horrible? Because its a lie. Child would believe in adults worlds and build their mindset depend on it and thats how their identify develop. But what will happen when they face with reality? Then what, who will be become, if adults were lying? They will have mentalbreakdown, its just unevitable ending. Akito’s sitution is not better than zodiac’s abuse at all.

Imagine a child who was only seen as worth as long as she is god, she also has mother who keeps abusing her and noone does anything about it. Ren just daily abuse her and people are just watching. But she becomes bad when she does the same.

This child’s all worth is depending on that connection with people, of course she will holding onto it with everything she had. She also literally has supernatural power that forces zodiac to obey, how much that kind of power can corrupt a child’s mind. Not only that, adults around her encourage her destructive behavours. All that god position is meant to be above on zodiac, she is meant to treat them as they are lesser, her position is literally expect her to be ‘abusive’.

And raising a child with ‘its okay to you hurt them’.

In fandom, many people says they related to her pain but they never abuse others. I think most people love the idea that they would never hurt anyone this way but i disagree.

Yeah, most of us suffers as abuse victim but we need to understand what exactly hold us; you cant lash out, if you are powerless. If you know that there will be consequences of your actions, you hold yourself. Especially many of us were taught from young age that we shouldnt hurt people, good people wouldnt hurt people, you cant do that but what if we were told that it was okay to do it? What if we were constantly heard from young age that its ok to do whatever we wants, its okay to hurt others, what if there were no punishment for it?

I will give a real life example.

Sylvia Marie Likens (January 3, 1949 – October 26, 1965) was an American teenager who was tortured and murdered by her caregiver, Gertrude Baniszewski, many of Baniszewski's children, and several of their neighborhood friends. This abuse incrementally lasted for three months before Likens died from her extensive injuries and malnourishment on October 26 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Source)

In court records, they’ve been asked that why they did such a horrible things, despite she didnt do anything wrong. And all those children answered ‘i dont know’. They were just children but they did it anyway. Why exactly this happenned? Its because the adult in charge told them its okay to do it. You can find many real life examples of how dangerous it is to build a mindset like this. Not only this, Akito is raised in clan and she has many limited world view cause she doesnt have outside expreince without it.

But story makes it look like the way Rin and Tohru reacts their abuse is better or good, praising their self destruction and Akito becomes bad because she didnt self destructive, she becomes destructive. Using abuse victims to dismiss another abuse victim’s pain is horrible. They shouldnt be compared, there is no right and wrong way to express trauma. Self destruction isnt right way or better way. Victims can lash out, self destructs, shut theirselves down etc, all those ways are unhealthy equally, they should learn to express their pain with healthy, instead of being categorized as good and bad victim.

Not only her way of reacting abuse makes her look bad but also, she is compared with abusive parents of zodiacs. How can a child who was groomed to be god, isolated, had mentalbreakdown shown as they are same as those educated who was supposed to know how to treat their children? Yes, she is abuser just like them but in her condition, it impossible to not be abuser, this is what being god of zodiac means.

The definition of justify is to provide an explanation or rationale for something to make it seem OK or to prove it is correct or OK. (source)

When we as readers make those kind of explanations, people say ‘its no excuse’ which has nothing to do with it. Akito’s actions werent okay but we need to understand the position she was in. Why she act that way and what lead her to change?

Story shows her as she was kind, cheerfull girl and she didnt abuse zodiac until she had mentalbreakdown. The fact that she was holding herself until her mentalbreakdown, all that grroming about being god, then she was ready to change when finally someone treat her as human being and she was also ready to take responsibility for her actions, all those things should give you the answer of her character.

But in the end, she is hardly seen as victim and mostly treated as ‘bad guy', even though, she is clearly not. The way story makes its look like 'she is bad cause she didnt express her trauma with sacrifical way’ is horrible. It also give an conclusion that author doesnt really understand how abuse works.

3- Unadressed character flaws

If you make your ‘good characters’ look as flawless or dont really adress the problem, of course it would make antagonist look worse.

Slapstick, a type of physical comedy characterized by broad humour, absurd situations, and vigorous, usually violent action. (source)

In a story about breaking cycle of abuse, Kagura and Yuki’s beating Kyo is shown as comedy with the name of slapstick. Same for Uo hurting him for no reason and its again used for comedy. And Hana’s bullying bullies too. Or Rin almost kill Tohru at their first meet which isnt funny at all, such an understimated and overlooked scenes but its ignored by fandom cause story doesnt adress it.

The problem with this; There is no such a thing that ‘violent/toxic behavours that we are not meant to take seriously’ because any kind of toxic and violent behavours are abuse, just because it doesnt end up traumatizing someone doesnt make it less important. Which is exactly why its weak writing because its character flaw and we are supposed to ignore it.

I already mentioned that Tohru’s self neglect (one of her flaws) isnt really adressed, her pollyanism is also shown as good thing, even though its very unhealthy so it should’ve been flaw.

Another example; How older zodiacs did nothing about whether Ren’s abuse on Akito, Akito’s abuse on zodiac and enabling her destructive behavours. This part doesnt necessarely a big fault of them since they are cursed too but i wish its still shown as mistake and flaw.

Kureno’s flaw wasnt him being too nice or not abandoning Akito. His flaw was him being there but doing nothing, just obeying. There is a high difference between enabling and not abandoning. Kureno’s choice was right, his flaw was something else and it was hardly mentioned and again story treated him like a prisoner, despite him having control of Akito.

Shigure’s biggest flaw is his unwilling to change but also he literally get away with how he treated Akito, he was acted like jerk but just because it somehow ended well, he never had to face with consequences of his actions. Shigure wasnt hero at all, the only good thing he did was bringing tTohru and giving a safe place to zodiac but other things he did; his motivation is selfish, his actions also hurted someone means he is villain too but kind of villain who didnt get redemption.

He is villain who got away and seen as good. For beginners, he also enabled Akito’s destructive actions too. No, he enabled those actions the most cause he traumatized her by sleeping with Ren and unlike Kureno and others, he did this on purpose. But story make it look like he is doing a good job by fighting against Akito like this. But again, there is high difference between standing out for yourself and abusing someone.

Not just them, even generally how zodiac treated Kyo as he is lesser than them or ignored him but when he acts as outcast, they shut him down. Yes, its part of system but thats the point. Akito treated zodiac as lesser cause she was god and zodiac act the same, they didnt do anything for Kyo’s going to prison because they internalized the idea of he is lesser but again, its same as Akito too. Again, its a flaw that hardly discussed and adressed.

The only character whom actually flaws adressed is Kyo’s blaming Yuki but even their complicated relationship is written as comedy, more than tragedy, Tom and Jerry style.

And even all those abusive parents and messed up clan is hardly adressed. So again, if you dont really adress all those character flaws, it will make look the one (Akito) whom flaws is adressed.

4- Too much empathy for abusive parents

I think its not hard to see this story specifically show empathy towards abusive parents in story. We know that there are many abusive parents in story but we hardly talk how easiely they get away.

For example, Momiji’s mother. Momiji himself explains how hard it is for her, for Sohma parents to be parents of zodiacs. This is a mother who abandonded her son just because he existed. But Momiji isnt even mad at her.

Or Yuki’s mother. Many people blame Akito for Yuki’s abuse but Akito is literally child and also victim in this sitution. There is high difference betwen an abused child who was groomed to be god and educated adult who is responsible for their children. This woman literally refered her son as tool, she openly said she used him for her own gains, she abandonded him to pain and her both sons have empathy for her. Look at how Yuki is happy to hear that.

Or Rin’s parents. Rin never mad at them, she is even asking forgiveness from them. There is a scene where Haru says children can be sad just like adults. This is not just character speaking, this is also what narrative is saying. But there is something wrong with that sentence. Children arent like adults, they feel emotions more, especially compared to adults. Those two sitution cant even be compared. At least, we see Haru hating them but onl y because they didnt apologise and feel sorry.

And Kyo’s father. He is not portrayed as bad but mostly as pathetic. But again, Kazuma compares him and Kyo, how Kyo acted like him. I mean of course Kyo will act like his abusive father, of course his father’s behavours will affect him.

And Akito’s mother is same too. Kureno says ‘they both hated each others’ and probably older zodiacs see them as similar too. I mean, again, there is a difference between mother’s hating her own baby and child who will hate her mother because her mother hated her. Of course, it will affect her.

And when Kureno asks ‘is Ren evil?’, Shigure answers ‘no, she is pitifull’. Story also said she is mentally unstable. Again, you can see story shows empathy for Ren.

And compared this to Akito's sitution, zodiac always talk about forgiving Akito, Yuki and others and especially Rin.

We see the scene when Rin says she will never forgive Akito but thats not the problem here. The thing is why the concept of forgiveness only exist when it comes to Akito. Why Rin never mentions about her parents? Why other characters dont get mad at them? Why people who never feel guilty, who dont change gets empathy but abuse victim, Akito doesnt get even half of it?

In real life, its so realistic. Usually abuse victims dont get mad at their abusive parents. Its easy to only blame Akito but story never adress this in the end. You can easiely see that all those abusive parents gets more empathy than abuse victims who was groomed since childhood by narrative. Which i think its ridilicous.

A character who feels extreme remorse, a character who try to change for better, a character who have terrible story deserves more empathy than those who wont change and feel sorry about their actions. Not only this, those abusive parents never really punished while abuse victim Akito is punished horribly.

And only Kyo and Akito were used to fight back against their abusers but when Kyo was healed, he stops. And after her redemption, Akito stops fighting back too and we see her, after years later, she let her abusive mother to stabs her and says she deserve it with a smile on her face.

I really dont know what author is trying to say. Like, dont fight back agaisnt your abusive parents cause they are your parents and you should reconcile with them? With every way, this is so frustrating and so unfair. Of course, they can get empathy, parenthood is hard too but this is taking it too far. They get away too easiely.

5- Normalized Toxic Love

Fruits Basket is not the first story that normalizes messed up relationships but here we go. Especially Katsuya-Kyoko, Akito’s relationship with Kureno and Shigure, high age difference, minor x adult type of relationships, also there is grooming etc even though, those things are important too, i dont wanna bring to those subjects.

Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them. (source)

There is also pedophile and grooming in their relationship which is horrible.

And even except those factors, Akigure is canonically toxic relationship but i think its still very overlooked.

Not just because Shigure slept with her mother, i think one of the most overlooked and messed up about this relationship is how Shigure abused her. Psychological abuse. Intentionally making someone insecure, playing ith their emotions, He literally played with her mental illness and its jusitified by narrative and also by fandom.

Fandom couldnt care less about Akito because they dont have enough empathy for Akito to care. They literally put Shigure and Akito to same position, even though they are not. Why?

1- They both hurted people but at leaast Akito was dealing with many severe of mental illness while Shigure doesnt have that kind of problem

2- Akito gets punished for her actions while Shigure gets away with it.

3- Akito recognized her wrong actions and try to change for better while we never see Shigure’s actually feeling remorse for what he did to Akito. He simply doesnt see it as wrong. He thinks they are same and justify it. He thinks Akito deserved it which how many abusers think about their victims, they think they deserve it.

Many people say their relationship become healthy but there is no way this relationship can be healthy without Shigure ever recognizing his wrong actions towards Akito. Why? Because Akito wasnt the only problem in relationship, Shigure is problem too, he should look at his own actions too but nope. In the end, it never happens and story makes it look like its okay, this is love. Story justify Shigure’s abuse, just because Akito isnt ‘innocent’. When Akito does, its bad but when Shigure does, its not.

You might say ‘but author says this is love’, 'but author said their relationship became healthy’. As reader, what author shows me in her story is more important than what she says in background. Because this is clearly not love. You can look at how healthy relationship works in here and the difference betwen love and obsession in here. Akigure is opposite of love.

And their relationship never develop healthy nice relationship either, more details about this in here and here.

6- ‘Redemption’ & Fake ‘Happy’ Ending

At first, its was nice to see that Akito wants to make up for what she did and the idea that she will try to change that place for better, like how she will break the cycle of abuse but end of story condracts with this.

Furuba another is nice and children are really adorable. But really…they are written only to tell their parents story. They just dont have their own characters, to the point they look exactly same as their parents. They always talk about their parents. In the end, its extra story of main one.

We also get a chance to see how much Akito feels guilty about her actions but- this is NOT karma or redemption. This is not breaking the cycle of abuse at all. Akito being stabbed by her abusive mother, being harrassed by people who literally groomed her the way she was is NOT justice or fair ending. This is NOT someting Akito deserves or something she should endure. She was their victim and she continues to be their victim again and people around her dont do anything cause oh yeah thats how she should atone. She has friends so its okay now. Look having emotional support is good but that doesnt disappear the effects of abuse, especially if people who supoort you ignore it when you are being abused, then it gets worse.

In the end, Akito the one who is abuse victim just like zodiac, end up being still cursed.

7- Writing Villain, Hero & Story

The problem with Akito’s story is not that she is not sympathyc but opposite, she is actually very sympathic character but author failed to show it to the readers. This is exactly why its so frustrating.

Set up compeling backstory that show he/she at the beginning is a good person at heart or at the very least a decent human being but due to some event (cruel/tragic/betrayal) losing hope in the goodness of men or after being corrupted by the evil of the world then choose to walk the path of villain. (source)

Author could easiley show Akito’s past with more details, her kind cheerfull self, all that grooming, how it effected her etc but we hardly see it. her redemption happens with 1 chapter which is so rushed.

During the series, she stabs, push someone out of window, cutting he hair, hitting people, beating child etc especially for this kind of charatcer, if you want to give redemption, you should make extra effort it. Also, all those things were so unnecessary. Its like author needed one bad guy to make story look better, instead of making all characters gray, she used one character for it so it would be a lot easier to push all blame to her. Which is very lazy writing, instead of adressing every character’s flaw and making them human/gray characters, she is somehow related to every problem one way or another.

Just like cartoons. One hero saves everyone, one cause trouble for everyone. To make them foils, you need to show how dark hero can be or let your vilain grow during the story, not the end of it.

Or at least, you should show your villain’s struggling, showing her mindset so readers can have empathy for her but instead all that suffering Akito endured happenned in background, we hardly see it.

In the end, Akito is sympatic character who is related to the theme of story the most but only to be wasted. More details about her character is in here.)

The easiest way to avoid unrealistic behavior is to research how real people behave in similar situations. If real people who are locked in a basement through adolescence end up with serious problems, so would your dungeon-confined character. Not that your character should be like everyone else; you want him to be distinctive. But the bigger the gap between his traits and normal behavior, the more convincing your explanation must be. (source)

And making a sunshine main character who magically save everyone, who did nothing but help people. Then, of course people wont take seriously of Akito’s parallels with her. Every main character has plot armor but it should make sense, for example, Kyo and Yuki’s not joining the new year meeting for the sake of a girl they didnt meet a lot of time doesnt make sense. Especially, if Yuki was really afraid of Akito, he wouldnt be able to do that. Also you cant heal people like Tohru, just being positive and hopefull doesnt work. You should let your hero (Tohru) to be gray too but instead she is being protected by all dark things during the series that villain (Akito) had to live with all her life.

Its like; one young girl who was raised with love and end up finding more and more love while another young girl who was trapped with cycle of abuse and end up having more and more pain which is very unfair, let both of them to be happy, especially the ones hwho was in pain.

Of course, if you dont adress the system and clan, people only look at Akito, other problematic characters are hardly shown, its like they are hiding behind Akito. Who is exactly at fault here? All those adults who decided to continued the traditions? Abusive parents? Or a child who was groomed since her young age? Akito didnt create the situtions, she is victim of it but why she has to take everyone’s responsibility? Why her abusers and enablers are blaming her and author make it sound like its redemption? How being abused by her abusers can be her karma? Do us readers have to ignore all that grooming, trauma and abuse she had?

What exactly the message author wanted to give? And did she really success? Lets look at the fandom.

There is no eternal bond.

If you make a character who reach out to people with unconditionally love and again, make your hero and villain so dark and light, some people migh t not ice the similarities. They think Tohru is reaching out to Akito cause she is forgiving, kind and unconditional love an all but in that scene, it was supposed to be opposite. Its interesting because its personal but again, its hardly noticed that Tohru was helping Akito, not for her but mostly for her own sake.

And the biggest flaw both Tohru and Akito had was depending on bonds, people. Tohru learns but ending Akito with a guy whom she had very toxic relationship, whom she is very depentive of and literally their whole romatinc relationship is based on ‘eternal’, uncontional love. Akito was supposed to be her own person, meeting with people who will love her as her own person, she needs time to develop personality and healing but ending her with Shigure....thank you, author, showing that noone can love Akito as her own person, only a guy like Shigure who saw her in his dream can love her, right?

Its not about forgiveness.

Story repeatedly say forgiving or not, its not important but people constantly focusing the part Akito being forgiven or not. Some says ‘she was forgiven by zodiac’, ‘some say she wasnt forgiven’ or ‘she doesnt deserve this’ which is the opposite point of story. The reason story tells its not important, its giving you a decision, the whole reason says he doesnt want to blame others anymore is because he wants to get rid of ‘victim mentality’ which is the last step of healing. There is no such a thing that she deserve or doesnt deserve, its literally about feelings and only thing matters is moving on.

what’s the difference between a positive character arc and a redemption arc?

Well, redemption arcs are simply a more dramatic form of positive character arcs.

A normal positive arc character is flawed, but is still on mostly stable moral ground. A character who undergoes a full redemption arc, on the other hand, starts from a much worse place. Their actions at the start of their story are likely awful or borderline unforgivable, meaning they have much more work ahead of them to truly overcome these problems. (source)

There are people who said Akito didnt get redemption or her acrs isnt about being forgiven which is again....redemption is exist for people like Akito who did unforgivable things,not just Akito, noone’s character arc is about being forgiven by people they hurted.

Some people in fandom justify how Shigure treated Akito and they say how characters like Shigure and Ayame push her which is again far away from the truth. Atyame’s constant ignorance and especially Shigure’s triggering her trauma is the reason she felt insecure, its made her condition worse. Hatori said this, every time Shigure came, her condition is gotten worse. Akito could’ve healed with a lot of ways other than this so saying that Shigure had to do this, she had to or deserves to have mental breakdown is horryfing. But of course, people will think that way because author made story like that too.

Dont categorize people like that.

Author use this line with Tohru but of course, its clearly not that effective for readers. The fact that people spend so many times of getting mad at Akito, talking about forgiven or not, how her redemption isnt exist or not about its etc etc this shows lack of empathy. Its been years since story ended but people still talk about this means they didnt acknowledge her change and redemption that much. Of course not because some poeple dont even understand what is exactly her trauma or they even assume Tohru would never do this which doesnt work in real life. The fact that she is stil refered as abuser but not as abuse victim, even after her redemption shows it. People are categorizing characters as good and bad. People take seriously of Kyo and Yuki’s trauma but dismiss Akito’s trauma.

If readers dont feel empathy for a character they are meant to empathize, then its bad writing.

Its okay, if you dont force yourself like this.

Authors tell people, her characters that they dont have to for theirselves like this, they dont have to smile, they dont have to sacrifice theirselves, they can think about their own needs too but of course, again this message doesnt work because we never see main character or other characters actually learn and take lesson with this. Because its never shown as flaw. Its shown as hardworking.

- - -

Okay, i really appreaciate the messages author intented to give. How people shouldnt depend, they should learn to let go of things, how relatiomnships can end but there are new meetings...its really really good message. I admire that part of story and characters and story was really entertaining in general.

But you can clearly see that author’s message didnt really reach out to her many readers, yes, we can say its lack of reading but its also author’s fault cause she write her story with black and white world view mindset.

What could’ve happenned?

We dont need sexual relationships plot at all, just feelings were enough, Akito and Shigure not ending together, story adressing every character’s flaws, pushing out of window was unnecessary instead just cutting hair part was enough, Kyo’s connection with Tohru’s mother was unncessary, his trauma is enough, story being with a little more dark but with happy ending, Tohru interacting with worst characters and maybe having breakdown and acting dark too, not putting all blame on the Akito, not making everyone couple or hetero, or letting Akito grow as person during the story and seeing her backstory with full details or at least giving Akito a happy ending or etc many many things just could’ve happenned.

She could easiely be the most popular character. Think about why Kyo is the most popular because he is realistic, he lash out, gets angry, we have his whole backstory, show his growth since beginning, feel his pain with closer look, unlike other characters, his flaw is adressed so its interesting, its realistic. This is why he is popular, if only author did the same thing with Akito, she would be easiely most popular character in story.

Her many characters arent realistic, real problem of story/curse was hardly adressed, Akito who is very great example of real life abuse victims is shown as evil. Author ended up normalizing toxic relationship, justify abuse cause the person was abuser too. And story is about breaking bonds, cycle of abuse but in the end, its not what happens in story.

What author shows is more important than what author and narrative says in story. This is not love, this is not how people break cycle of abuse, this is not redemption, this is not how people with mental illness act, there is such a thing that grooming, long effects of mental illness and how it will effect mindset. If author isnt gonna adress it, then why she write her villain like that? Does she even know what she write?

I know that author is not psychologist but i wish at least she made some research about mental illness and abuse victims before writing about it. She is human being but this is exactly why we need to accept that there are many flaws in her story. I cant say why she did write like that or maybe she just didnt care that much, its her own story but as reader, i have a right to criticize story and i need to say that i hate how the way she handled her story, her characters, especially Akito.

This is why i hate Akito’s ending, she is very sympathyc character for me cause she is great example of real life abuse victims but her pain and trauma is so overlooked both by story and fandom. And thats very disturbing and sad because it reminds me of how abuse victims are treated in real life, how their pain doesnt valid because they didnt express it with the way people wanted and this story normalize it and show this as good thing. Those are the reasons why i hate it. (I might edit things later).

#fruits basket #fruits basket meta #furuba analysis #writing criticism #natsuki takaya #fandom criticism #sohma akito #redemption arc #character arc #bad writing #anti #:///

30 notes · View notes

lys-lilac · 3 years

Text

Yuki Sohma: An In-depth Character Analysis

I remember getting this anime as a recommendation in summer almost 2 years ago. Right, when the reboot season 1 started. I was so engrossed in this that I can’t tell you. The theme of the series always made me keep at the edge of my seat. And yeah, as the title suggests, I got to admire him the most-

I know, many of you might think that I fell in love with his beauty after seeing him in the anime for the first time, but unfortunately, it’s a big no. I love the characters who care about others so much. And he is the perfect example.

Now, the point is, what makes him steal the top rank for me while most of the fandom is basically about Kyo and Tohru? Let me put down the points. But before that, grab your earphones or headphones, and play this song as you read about the things he has been through.

youtube

1. His selfless attitude

His kind nature shines throughout the series. We see in the beginning that it was he who discovers Tohru living in a tent. He welcomes her to stay in Shigure’s home, even after knowing that their curse is being put at risk and takes care of her fever. After she sleeps, he ventures out in the night to dig up her belongings. Even though he mentions that he had selfishly taken her just to rebel against the family curse, still this is replaced by his benevolent and sweet nature towards Tohru. As a result, their relationship is beautiful.

He also has helped her countless times, whether it’s taking her back from her relatives, or lending her hand to carry the grocery bags. These all moments define how pure their bond is and how both trust and care each other.

2. His willingness to sacrifice everything

This point actually reminds of Kasumi Toshiki from Romance MD: Always on Call. Even though he appears plain on the surface, he can go to any extent just for the sake of her happiness. One instance of this can be from season 2 episode 22. Kyo and Tohru seem to be in the hallway, with Tohru trying to grab the script from his hands. Just then, Yuki says whether they would give him way to go upstairs. It is obvious that Yuki would have seen the whole thing, but for her sake, he doesn’t interrupt. The line he says here is-

“You are precious. I look up to you. I cherish you because you provided for me what I desperately longed for.”

Now what did he yearn for? It was Tohru’s love and affection for him, which he didn’t get from anyone else, not even his mother when he was a child.

3. The heart-fluttering sweet moments and his character development

Ah! Thanks to the production for such sweet moments of Yuki and Tohru. Even if the ship is not canon, they will still remain my favorite.

In my opinion, this story actually portrays Yuki’s development in character more than any other thing. This is amazing. The boy, who was unable to let go of his dark past, the truth that he was after was covered with a lid, all are slowly untangled with Tohru’s compassionate nature towards Yuki. Unlike the fan club who adored him only for his looks, she sees him in a different, more friendly light, which mellows him up. What’s more, the once timid boy builds up so much courage within himself that he doesn’t get afraid of Akito anymore and confronts her face to face. The warmth he searched for, finally reaches him just like a soft feather, landing on his palm, giving a soft and soothing touch of happiness.

Let’s look at this background here. Yuki is surrounded by chinese bellflowers, which symbolize honesty, unchanging love and obedience. In his hand lays a white rose, which means, devotion, and innocence. The color white itself and his name are a symbol of peace and silence. This actually is an imagery for his character, and it resembles it truly.

Yuki had no intentions of getting on bad terms with Kyo. But it’s seen in episode 20, that Kyo shouts at him outside the banquet saying it was all his fault. Although he was small, but those words were like a heavy blow to him. What’s more, even when he comes back crying hoping for his mom to console him, she slaps him and warns him not to disappear again. (Noo... T^T)

(Kyo shouts this to him outside the hall.)

There is some fault with Kyo as well for this point. All Yuki wanted was to become friends with him. He yearned for the parental love and friendship which Kyo had since his childhood. But, the latter has the misunderstanding that Yuki had everything.

Yuki says this when he remembers that Kyo didn’t take the hat from his hand when he gives him. This makes him cry so hard, cause he was just a little child going through these painful things, all at once.

“There was something I wanted. Parents who would embrace me. A home I wanted to return to.”

(Yuki cries after being ignored by Kyo.)

Even though Kyo’s behavior initially compelled him to be like that, even though he knew that there is a lot Kyo was internally suffering from, but in episode 22, he just couldn’t take it anymore. Instead of debating, he stays silent and shows his most vulnerable and hurt face to Kyo, because he didn’t want things to end up like that between them. He didn’t want the person he admired to lash out at him every time, when he was at no fault at all, and still is the prey of Kyo’s anger and apathy. This only leaves Kyo speechless, making him break the window out of frustration. This part pains me a lot, because Kyo had at least someone he can throw out his anger and put the blame. But Yuki didn’t even had that.

There is again this pretty imagery here. Yuki, when looking at Kyo, is bathed with the sunlight. This symbolizes the change he has gone through and accepted it, which is really stunning to notice.

[The rest are in paragraph form from here]

Now that I have talked much about his positive points, let’s explore a hot topic which is often a reason of disagreement between Yuki’s fans and Kyo’s fans.

What are Yuki’s actual feelings towards Tohru?

I know that almost all the fandom here will say these feelings which he talks about is what a mother would give to his child. And this point strengthens a lot more as it was confirmed by the author. If that’s the case, then let me state my thoughts on this, which are opposite to the author’s.

Let’s again move back to episode 22 of season 2. In the first half, Yuki talks to Kakeru about his first meet with Tohru when he was a child. At that time, he was tortured so much by Akito, both physically and mentally, that he thinks that there is no purpose of his life, and he is not needed by anyone at all. With this thought in mind, he disguises himself with a baseball hat and runs away from the Sohma estate. After some time, he discovers Tohru’s mother, Kyoko, crying because she was missing. He suddenly remembers to have seen her earlier, crying in the street, and helps her to reach her mother. At last, he places the hat on her head and disappears. It is later seen that he has converted to his rat form, and cries on realizing that at least at that point, he was needed by Tohru, and his thoughts were proved wrong.

He mentions that he almost forgot to ask her name at that time. And when he again was hitting the bottom, Tohru approaches him in the high school, slowly building courage and giving love to him. He also discovers later that the girl, whom he once his hat was none other than Tohru. With things unravelling, their bond becomes stronger.

But, although he mentions that he had only motherly affection towards her and couldn’t see her in a romantic light, I still doubt the line itself.

“But she appeared before the hopeless me once again. To be with me, close to me. She even listened to what someone like me had to say. Time after time, she accepted me time and again. She’s beloved to me. Like how the sky feels so close, yet so far.”

This line, although somehow shows that Yuki is saved by Tohru every time he is in need of it, but it feels weird to say that he only thinks of her as a mother here. I mean, one can also feel like this if he/she is helped by a good friend, or a dear one. And Yuki also mentions that she is beloved to him. But, what about the last line? Doesn’t it sound like, he can’t reach her even if she was close to reach? Because this is the exact meaning. If we analyze word by word, then this makes sense, as Yuki had already realized by that time that Kyo and Tohru had mutual feelings towards each other. In fact, he says it himself that it dawned on him in the last episode of season 1 when Tohru chases after Kyo into the forest, the latter being converted to his monster form. And how could he not? This guy is mature enough to figure out anything. Then this would have been nothing.

One instance of this realization could be the beach arc episode 7 , where he says-

“I probably actually knew, in the back of my mind. What would happen if I opened the lid. What I must do. Thanks for always being willing to lend an ear. Thanks for always accepting my weaknesses.... You probably don’t know that you are the one who’s always saving me. You always shared your kindness, warmth, and joy with me. That’s why, I won’t lose. I will keep going forward, and keep believing.”

Tohru asks the exact thing which was going on my mind listening to that voice acting. Why did he look so sad there? And Yuki replies that she is just like the sky, very dear to him. Doesn’t it sound exactly like a confession to a person about what she did for you till now? Yuki already had realized that, and this is just a proof. He sounds sad, and he also compares her to the sky. The metaphor which comes to mind is that he is basically symbolizing that her vast expanse of kindness is just like the sky, which is so close, yet so far. Even if he wanted, he can’t keep her all to himself. That’s why he just says that she is dear to him. The way it is portrayed here, is just like saying goodbye before parting ways. Huh... I didn’t continue the season afterwards because of this scene. T~T

(Why, why did he cry after saying that she was dear to him....? Isn’t it right in front of your eyes? *sobs*)

And, if he only sees her as a mother, then what does this mean-

“I was so confused, not to mention incredibly embarrassed. I wasn’t sure how to deal with it, so I didn’t. I shut it away immediately. I stuffed those feelings down, teased and flirted like a normal guy with the girl he likes. But still, it felt wrong.”

It’s clear here. He had somehow developed romantic feelings for her, earlier. But when he realized it was not what he meant, and saw the gradual progression of Tohru and Kyo liking each other, he changes his mind, thinking that he might have been wrong the whole time. That the feelings he harbored for her weren’t correct. But when he thinks of her as a mother, he feels embarrassed. And it’s no different. Why wouldn’t anyone feel like that if it’s someone of your age? This implies that their relationship wasn’t a romantic one, but not a motherly one either.

Kakeru asks the same thing next. He says that maybe he has twisted his thoughts and feelings just after knowing that he had lost her to Kyo. But Yuki denies it saying-

“It’s not true why I feel like this. But, he properly sees her as a woman. He loves her. You can see it in his eyes. Her too. The way she looks at him... But I... I don’t want that! That isn’t what I want! I’d feel... so lonely. I am not willing to give up. I don’t know when to give up.”

(Such a pure boy... Just cried after saying that... )

Definitely as said above. He is obviously jealous of Kyo here. Not in a romantic way, but because he didn’t want Tohru’s kindness and hope she gave him to recede away. Even if it was like a good friend, he wanted to stay by her side. He is mature enough to see the bonds that she and he shared. And he is not the type to fret over getting rejected or anything like that. Moreover, you can already get a hint from the line that he approved of Kyo and Tohru. This always impresses me. The bond that these two have is so beautiful and unspoken, that it transcends romance itself.

Although this is probably half of my reasonings, I will stop here. Although I covered the most important ones here, but I wanted to discuss many other scenes too. Let’s keep it for next time!

#fruits basket #furaba #yuki sohma #sohma yuki #character analysis #kyo sohma #tohru honda #akito sohma #kakeru manabe #lys's thoughts #analysis and thoughts #i ship the pure and beautiful relationship they have #T-T #coffee with lys

96 notes · View notes

yuusa · 3 years

Text

𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝟏𝟒

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 𝟑𝟔𝟒𝟒

𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫

𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝟏𝟒:

You knocked on their front door, a basket of food in your hands that you prepped earlier in the day. You hope it wasn’t rude to ask them to use their kitchen, you thought it would be much better to cook them fresh dinner rather than something you stored in the fridge from the morning.

It had been a couple of days since your encounter with Akito and you have been trying to contact Yuki more often. At first, you didn’t know what you were supposed to do in order to “maintain” your friendship, as your relationship with Yuki always seemed to be left in the air, waiting to be taken.

It was small gestures of acknowledgment you tried to hint at towards him. For example, you told him that Tohru wanted to invite him to a game of badminton after school. While you were unable to attend due to your shift, you encouraged him to play with them, if not for his sake but for yours. You were a bit glad to hear that he came back to you later in the day and texted you about his experience, saying that he felt much lighter than he did earlier.

You may have replied a bit late due to your shift, but you noticed yourself smiling a bit more often as you began to think about the gray-haired male. Shimada commented on your positive attitude and thought that you might have broken out of your nest to explore the world, while Aikyo said you were choosing a lot more zodiac related stationery. This feeling of caring and thinking about others was flooding your mind like a cup under the faucet, constantly overfilling.

You heard a couple of voices behind the door and some shuffling before the door slid open. Shigure greeted you casually while inviting you in.

“Oh! What brings you here (Y/n)-kun?” He asked.

You lifted up the basket full of food, “dinner. I wanted to thank you for the other time when you invited me for dinner.”

“That’s amazing! Perfect timing as well, Tohru-kun and Yuki’s brother went out to eat and we didn’t have anything.” You took off your shoes before making your way to the table, seeing Kyo and Yuki sitting there watching T.V.

“(L/n)-san?” Yuki questioned, “what are you doing here at this time?”

“I thought it would be nice to cook everyone dinner, as a way to repay you for your previous invitation.” You bowed in front of them politely, “I hope it’s not too much to ask to use your kitchen.”

Shigure waved his hand, “that would be fine! You sure did come at a perfect time!”

“I see, I had no idea Sohma-san had a brother.” You commented, turning around to the kitchen and opening your basket to reveal several containers. There were several filets of salmon that you recently purchased from the store that was marinated after you came back from your shift. They were a nice color already from the amount of time they slept in the marinade, if you had soaked the salmon in the miso for too long, it would become extremely salty.

“What are you making?” Kyo peered over your shoulder as you unlocked the lid. You took out the apron you brought with you and tied it around your back, securing it with a knot.

“Miso salmon, I heard in class you were not fond of miso, so I made a separate filet,” You replied, “it’s a bit simple.”

“That’s fine, I’ve always been interested in your cooking ever since the other girls said you were great at it,” The orange-haired classmate grinned before making his way back to the table, “you better not put chives in it!”

“Could you be any pickier?” Yuki rolled his eyes while Kyo stood up defensively, trying to explain that chives were probably the devil’s creation.

“It would be nice to have (Y/n)-kun cook for us as well! Two beautiful girls!” Shigure swooned, “a dream come true!”

“I hope you don’t get arrested,” Yuki groaned.

“Are you jealous of (Y/n)-kun cooking skills Yuki-kun? You are quite clumsy with your hands and last time when you tried to coo—”

“Could we not talk about that?” He snapped back, “I’m starting to get better.”

“That’s good Sohma-san.” You commented, “practice always helps with improving yourself. I wasn’t very good at cooking at the start either.” You roughly chopped up the vegetables while multitasking, engaging yourself in the conversation.

“It’s good news to hear that you’re still trying.” You smiled, causing Yuki to turn his head away as his cheeks began to flush.

Yuki vividly remembers the day the two of you shared a quiet moment on the rooftop, his cheeks beginning to burn a hotter temperature at the thought. He wonders if you still have the drawing the two of you made together.

Shigure hummed, “you’ve been much closer to Yuki-kun lately, did you two do something together?”

You casually shrugged, pushing the vegetables onto their own separate bowl as a side dish. “Not really.”

There was a brief pause of silence before hearing someone’s stomach growl. Kyo groaned in response while flipping himself over onto the floor.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be done soon.” You replied, specifically to his growling stomach. “Where did Tohru-kun go with Sohma-san’s brother?”

Yuki sighed in annoyance, the feeling of exhaustion directed towards his older brother, “he decided to take Honda-san out to eat at the nearby restaurant.”

“I see. . .” You didn’t know exactly how to respond, you were an only child after all and you didn’t have anyone to talk to in your younger days. Although you went to the same middle school as Yuki, you both hadn’t crossed paths until you became part of the committee for the first year of high school.

“How would you describe your brother, Sohma-san?” You flipped over the salmon that was beginning to crisp up slightly in the pan. It was starting to smell really good.

“He’s annoying, perverted, and most of all strange.” Yuki responded, feeling his blood almost begin to boil at the thought, “makes me wonder how we are even related.”

“He sounds quite interesting,” you moved the cooking the non-miso salmon for Kyo.

“No, he is quite the opposite.” Yuki retorted, flipping through the pages of his book.

You carefully plated each of the dishes onto the plates before making your way over to the table. You remember making this recipe in class and just happened to remember it earlier in the day. The smell of salmon and miso filled the room while there was a neatly scooped ball of rice in a small bowl.

“Dinner is ready.” You announced, tucking in your legs underneath you as you sat down with them.

“Oh! Smells good!” Shigure clapped his hands, already holding onto the chopsticks in between his fingers as he smiled. “Do you normally cook like this at home?”

You scratched your cheek awkwardly, “not very often. I take home leftovers from work.”

You were surprised on the inside. You never knew how inviting the Sohma family was until you decided to open the doors. You’ve wallowed up in your own concerns to realize the number of people who also needed help. You gripped the edge of your skirt as the rest of them prayed.

You really didn’t want to think about your own problems, not when you are doing so well at trying to be with others.

“Thank you for the meal.” Everyone said, their chopsticks digging into the meal as they ate.

Yuki eyed you from the other side of the table. Your noticeable change in behavior was quite obvious to him. He wondered if the meeting with Akito changed your perception of things, or if it was the day you heard him cry.

Even at school, you made an effort to address your fans. You would write in your journal less and focus heavily on talking with other people. He felt as if you were forcing yourself to talk to others despite the change in tone. Even though there was that lingering feeling, he can’t deny the fact that you almost look content with what you were doing.

You were simply distracting yourself from your own problems by helping others.

You knew you may not be the best at wording the things you say, and you aren’t the best at being someone’s friend, but you were trying. You felt as if actions spoke more than words could, and that by being able to communicate with people you might even find your own happiness in theirs. It could be wishful thinking, trying to comfort others when you couldn’t even take care of your own self, but the way Yuki’s eyes stared back at you like a reflection in the mirror, you couldn’t bear to see someone like that.

No one else should suffer from your eyes.

You brushed back a few strands of your hair as you quietly ate your food, listening to Shigure talk about his latest book and editor. You wondered if the chance of pace made you easier to talk to. Aikyo told you a couple of days ago that you looked much brighter than you did when she first saw you.

“I’m home!” Tohru’s voice echoed in the halls before turning to see everyone seated at the table, nearly finished with the food. “Oh! (Y/n)-kun, you came over today!”

“Yes. I thought you would be here as well, but I was told you went out to eat. There is an extra salmon filet in the fridge for you to eat later if you ever feel hungry.” You responded, wiping at your lips with a napkin as you placed your chopsticks on top of your bowl.

It didn’t seem like Yuki’s brother came home with her, there didn’t look like there was anyone other than Tohru who came back. You narrowed your eyes at the sight of her holding a stack of clothes and shoes in her hand.

“Tohru-kun, why do you have someone else’s clothes?” You asked.

Tohru began to stutter as the rest of the group went cold, “a-ah! I-I went to the store to buy some!”

You nodded, not really understanding the reason behind her nervousness but decided to overlook it. You noticed that there seemed to be a wiggling creature underneath her actual clothes, the unknown figure slithering close to her neck. You quickly stood up and walked towards Tohru who began to sweat profusely.

“Y-Yes? W-What’s wrong (Y/n)-kun?” Tohru nervously stuttered.

You reached out to her neck and pulled out an albino snake. She squealed in surprise, almost as if she had been caught red-handed. The snake slithered around your arm but you slowly maneuvered it to stay near your hand.

“I’m surprised you didn’t notice this snake Tohru-kun.” You carefully opened up the snake’s mouth to examine its fangs, “it doesn’t seem to be venomous. It might just be a harmless snake, but you should be careful next time when you’re walking home.”

Yuki and Kyo sweatdropped, trying not to say anything that could alarm your suspicions of this mysterious snake. They both knew exactly who it was, but they were lucky the contact with you and him was enough to not transform back. The two of them never knew that you were so calm in the face of a possibly dangerous animal, then again, the only time Yuki has ever seen you look a bit flustered was the time he asked for your phone number.

“An albino snake. . . I haven’t seen one in person before.” You gently guided the snake and stroked at its cheek with your finger, the animal curling up on your arm as to embrace your warm skin. It nuzzled against your finger while its body continued to wiggle around you. It seemed content on staying with you.

“O-Oh. . . Do you like snakes (Y/n)-kun?” Shigure cleared his throat.

“Hm. . .” You hummed, “I think they’re interesting.”

Unbeknownst to the group, the white snake was stuck in a predicament. While your body was extremely warm and soft, almost like cuddling a pillow, your eyes looked predatory. He was struggling with the two inner sides of his head, one that wanted to stay in a warm environment or run away from you. This was a very dangerous situation as some eagles were known to consume snakes.

You felt Yuki pull the snake away from you and handed it over to Kyo who stood by Tohru’s side. “(L/n)-san, why don’t I guide you to the bathroom, the snake might be a bit dirty.”

“Sure.” You absentmindedly let Yuki drag you towards the bathroom for girls while Kyo and Shigure dealt with the snake.

He carefully pushed you in and instructed you to wash with soap before closing the bathroom door. Yuki waited outside to stand guard for you. His headache would surely grow if his older brother found out that he was friends with another girl other than Tohru, he might say something embarrassing to you.

He heard the faint sound of the familiar explosion as his flamboyant brother called out to him from the other room.

“Sohma-san, what was that noise?” You asked, feeling slightly concerned as it sounded similar to the one from the school festival, “was that an explosion?”

“No! Don’t worry about it, the neighbors must be lighting fireworks.” He replied, trying not to stutter. You raised your eyebrows but didn’t comment on it any further.

You awkwardly rubbed at your skin with soap while checking your appearance in the mirror. It seems as if the dark spots under your eyes have worsened, but it wasn’t enough to warrant a response or comment from others. You might be able to fix it with light makeup. You washed your face before knocking on the door to alert Yuki you had finished.

“Sohma-san, did your brother come home?”

Yuki opened the door to reveal your washed-up form, your skin slightly glowing underneath the light.

“It appears so.” He sighed before taking you back to the table where his white-haired brother sat.

He had long, flowy white hair that reached to his back. His eyes were much different from Yuki’s, it was a bit familiar to the snake you just touched earlier. He certainly did look like an older version of Yuki.

You politely bowed down in front of him, “it’s nice to meet you, I’m (L/n) (Y/n), Sohma-san’s classmate from school.”

He appears to be quite interested in your appearance as he placed his hand under in chin in a thinking position. He always thought Tohru looked pretty but you seemed to be more of a model. You had nice (s/c) skin that was warm to the touch and soft. Your (h/c) hair framed your face nicely as you peered up to him with your sharp gaze, possibly one that could freeze the room.

“So you’re my precious little brother’s friend! Nice to meet you, I am Sohma Ayame!” He flamboyantly announced, swinging his arms above his head to emphasize his words, “do you mind coming over to my store?!”

“Huh?” He grabbed onto your hand while tilting your chin up, your eyes meeting up with his golden orbs.

“You and Yuki can come over together!” He eagerly asked, his eyes sparkled brightly as he smiled in anticipation of your response. Yuki could feel his annoyance boil at an extreme temperature, almost like a kettle was about to burst.

“Um. . .” You didn’t know what you were supposed to say. This was your first time meeting someone as energetic as Ayame and you didn’t know exactly how to handle this sort of attention. “Sure. . . ?”

“Splendid!” He twirled you around, “I will write down the address so you can visit it over the weekend! Be sure to bring my wonderful and amazing younger brother!”

“H-Hey!” Yuki pulled you away from Ayame, “you’re pressuring her into this. Besides, aren’t you already busy this weekend?”

Ayame gasped in horror, “you’re right! But I will always make time for you Yuki! Nothing could come between our love. . .”

“Could you try not to get arrested?!”

You awkwardly stood in the middle of them, your mind completely blank at the scene unfolding in front of you. Yuki and Ayame bickered back and forth, one trying to convince the other to leave and one desperately trying to rekindle the brotherly love lost in the snow.

They sure are lively, you thought. Despite how dysfunctional their family was, or how many times they argued and disagreed, they always seem to come together in the end.

You found it quite strange yet familiar.

“Honey, it’ll be okay.” Your father comforted your mother as she wept in the other room.

“Of course it’s not okay?! Have you seen her?!” She screamed, curling up into a ball as your father pulled her into his arms. She rejected his advancements by shoving him back, knocking over some of the ceramics which decorated the halls. “She-Our daughter, she’s gone! Replaced by someone I don’t even know!”

“How can you stand to look at her?! (F/n)?!” Before she could pull her hand back, he quickly grabbed onto her and steadied themselves. “Let me go!”

“She’s the devil I tell you! She’s cursed!” She screamed.

“Calm down (M/n)!” He shouted back, “breathe for me honey, it’ll be fine, you’ll be fine.”

Your mother stifled her cries as she felt her arms and legs become weak, her fragile body dropping to the floor. The tears in her eyes dropped to the wooden floor like the rain from darkened clouds. Your father knelt down by her side, wiping away at the tears which pooled in her eyes as she sobbed pitifully.

“It’s okay. We can get through this together.” He whispered, bringing the two of them into another attempt at an embrace.

You yearned for someone to tell you the same words as well.

You unconsciously blinked away the small tears in the corner of your eye, but still wiped at your face with the back of your hand. Your lips formed a frown as you quickly gathered up the dishes quietly, the two brothers still bickering in the background as you made your way to the sink. Tohru watched as you slowly washed each of the dishes, still not making any sort of comment to the situation.

She looks lonely. . . Tohru didn’t quite understand what was going on in your life. She noticed your more cheery side during the week but couldn’t help but feel as if you were still unhappy. You seemed so exhausted every time she sees you outside of school, the dark circles under your eyes never went unnoticed by her.

Could it be that you were trying to make yourself look happy? She wondered. She noticed that you rarely ever talk about yourself, always contributing to the conversation with a surface idea but never elaborating any further. It was almost as if she didn’t know you at all. She didn’t know what was your favorite color, or what your favorite animal was, all the basic information a friend would know, but she doesn’t have that. She only knows little bits of what you said, you work at a cafe, you live in a singular apartment, and you are an only child.

Did you have a rough life with your own parents as well? Tohru always wondered why your parents never came to school meetings, why they never came to school events, they never showed up in your life at all. When it came to field trip permissions, you were always the last to turn in your slip despite being one of the top students in the school. When the Home Economics teacher asked the class to make your parents favorite dish, you stood there with nothing, it was almost as if you didn’t even know what your parents liked. It was the first project you ever failed in Home Economics. She remembers this event clearly as the teacher scolded you after class, concern written over her eyes as she tried to confront you about your own family life.

Tohru knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help but hear that you say that you don’t know anything about your parents.

You stared at the dishes with gloomy eyes, wiping at the surface with soap and sponge, watching as the bubbles formed and disappeared into the black hole of the sink. The sounds of another person’s footsteps came to your side as you turned to them. Tohru smiled at you before grabbing another dirty plate and beginning to wash it with the other sponge.

“(Y/n)-kun. . . Is there something on your mind. . .?” She asked, your eyes widening for a split second before reverting itself to its original doleful look.

“. . . No, I’m fine Tohru-kun.” You gave her a smile, the sides of your cheek beginning to hurt. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

You scrubbed at the stain on the plate, Tohru still watching as your smile drooped down slightly, the pain still evident on your face yet you were trying to cling onto the fact that you were fine. You placed the dish onto the clean rack and reached out to the last one, only for it to be swiped away from you by Tohru.

“If something is bothering you, you could always tell me (Y/n)-kun.” She washed the plate with a genuine smile, “I’m here to listen.”

You froze in place, your surroundings being drowned out by the sound of your static heartbeat.

#fruits basket #fruits basket x reader #x reader #yuki sohma #yuki sohma x reader #yuki soma #yuki soma x reader

52 notes · View notes

singingbun · 4 years

Text

Furuba thoughts on S2 ep25

A psychologist will have a field day watching/reading fruits basket simply because all characters have a mental instability in their psyche.

With that out of the way...

Fruits Basket can never be replicated or emulated into any other shojo series I have read. Some cross to uncomfortable lines of 'edge' for the sake of being edgy. Some literally centres their characters through sad backstories. Some try to emulate the 'healing' plot and force you to cry without carefully thinking about the repercussions of its impact to the readers. But I realise a lot of modern shojo series unconsciously tried to do what fruits basket does but fails.

Why?

Because unlike other shojo series, Takaya knows how to handle pain and teaches her readers how to empathize. I remember how this series taught me that when I was 13 years old. It's to understand why people do the things that they do. But unlike other shojo mangas, this series was neither condoning nor intolerant towards other people's terrible behaviour. The would be or should villains in other stories tend to be used as a scapegoat to elevate the shojo heroine's "goodness" or "niceness". But in Fruits Basket, that would have easily been the case, until the page turns to Akito's circumstances. I read the manga but I won't spoil anime onlies.

Through Kureno's eyes we see Akito as a pitiful, misunderstood girl. A lonely girl who had no one to turn to but to the zodiac. The cusp of the revelation of Akito wasn't because it's some kind of coming out plot, but a signifies an underlying trauma. Akito from the very beginning was already broken. Like a broken glass, she hurts others because she was hurt. But that was never something to justify her actions.

The worst part was that her actions were easily rewarded by her toxic maids who only garner praise to her misdeeds. That's even worse. The sad element is that the toxicity of the Sohma clan is how the system was built from a traditional practice no one dared to question. So rather than a reprimand to stir them into the right direction, they merely festered their ways until their own children suffered.

Akito is a terrible person. A horrible person. But when we see her in Kureno's eyes that changes. And unlike other stories where the heroine has the privilege of seeing the "good" inside of their villain, we see it through a different character and emulated his view towards the heroine. Some shojo series tried this method too, but ultimately fails because they wrote their characters in a contrive way.

That's as far as my thoughts go for today. Have good day.🙂

#fruits basket anime #fruits basket season 2 #thoughts #fruits basket characters #akito sohma #furuba #Fruits basket

108 notes · View notes

thetravelerkureno · 3 years

Note

Tbh idk if that's still relevant but your last post actually made me go back to that scene cuz i remember plenty of ppl using it as a claim for the "it's kureno's fault" thing and eh... they as well ignore that right after that kakeru also straight up says "it's also partly her fault for not being able to talk back" which ig because it sounded "too harsh" in compare but that's still part of his view on these situations so ehhh...😶😅

its old salt but it burned in my bones remembering it because it did come back when talking about kureno because

"that kindness of yours leaving me half saved and half rejected. did you realize it was killing me? "

and people just said yup yup just like kakeru said and only quoting that part and not...like Yuki saying that certainly is something to take into account and can be hurtful but like what is the third option. is it really just either save them forever or let them get hurt ? that its the fault of the people who are being hurt for not being strong enough to stick up for themselves? that you're not allowed to act unless your motivations are made out of pure unselfishness

kakeru was able to quickly find the perfect answer for that situation. announce something that would distract the fangirls and give yuki a small but not overwhelming role in helping machi without the added backlash of his care for her specifically blowing up in her face.

what about the people who don't have perfect answers?

"why didn't you just abandon me when you had the chance?"

because it was someone crying in front of him. with his newfound freedom and of his own will he wanted to help this person in front of him. at the top of his lungs and until the end he did it so many things wrong for this. he trapped himself again, he let akito tell him how to make her feel better, he let her get away with things she did to others and himself, repeating the words they've grown up with, perpetuating the cycle, forgetting to grow

"don't you think you should have left for her sake?"

yeah he messed up but are you really telling me that kureno leaving her abruptly like that at her age in this environment alone to wallow confused was the "right" answer. he's a kid. she's a kid. they're both confused and came up with a answer that turned into something twisted. because she might've been crushed by that reality otherwise

maybe there was a perfect answer or a better one but kureno decided not to ignore her. even with people around him saying this ultimatum is better kureno decides to move forward. He defies akito's will to save isuzu and finally tells her that its all wrong, he shares how he feels about their environment and what he sees it doing to her

maybe its pity, maybe its not pure unselfish kindness, but he, until the end, tried without abandoning her. even him leaving is because it finally would be the best thing for her

i straight up don't get what the point of this panel is if everyone obviously forgot about it so they can label the people who failed fake and inferior and might as well not have bothered

a lot of kureno staying was him going "i'm staying for me as well as her because i'm stubborn af and i don't want to be someone who squelches on promises and leaves people when they seem to need me." and afterwards there's a lot of building on that to "change is necessary, the kindness she needs is more than this place and the me i am right now, i've listened to her maybe its time i say what i have to say"

and it infuriates me that people give so much power of what is essentially " do the job right or not at all" and ROLL WITH IT?? YUKI DID NOT HAVE THE HEART THE SIZE OF AN OCEAN AND TRY TO REMIND YOU OF THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF MAYBE DON'T ABANDON PEOPLE WITH YOUR "WELP NOTHING FOR ME TO DO HERE ATTITUDE?" when ayame?? his mom??

then people try and fail, they're not worth more than the fact that they failed?? (its also why i feel SO defensive of kyo's mama who also did so much wrong but deserved so much more thought than "she wasn't the best and her choices caused a lot of damage to kyo and eventually herself...the end")

i'm getting off topic but there is so much going on in that scene for people to just walk away with that partial quote from him without the complementary idea from Yuki and it makes me tired

yes pity and halfhearted actions can cause as much harm as any possible good but doing nothing isn't the answer either and would allow a different kind of damage to happen. its not perfect answer machines choosing to do things about the situations they see . its people. flawed flawed people who are seeing someone about to be crushed.

#thanks for the ask!#ask #fb discourse #i straight up hate how unnuanced the pity arguments are for a show that straight up says that these emotions are complex and can co-exist #with [good] emotions or whatever #to conclude [do the job right or not at all]#sdfjankajdfa this came out so salty

8 notes · View notes

animegenork · 3 years

Text

Fruits Baskets Final Season Episodes 2 & 3

What? No, I didn’t watch these on the Fridays of the weeks they came out. No, I wasn’t dying from school---

Anyway, back to the grind.

Episode 2

I swear the gif search function HATES me and what I’m trying to do---

Anyway.

I would like to make this very clear. Shigure is a little bit evil. A little bit. But it’s mostly from being twisted by the zodiac curse and his strange form of love. So if you wanted to punch him this episode, that’s good. He needs to be punched. A lot. Like a lot. God, he’s so evil. Moving on.

So the episode begins with young Akito asking Shigure if he loves her. This is, as we’ve seen, something that Akito fixates on, mostly due to her father accidentally warping her with the idea of being eternally loved by the zodiac members. He responds with a very earnest love confession that sort of explains why they spend so much time together, but it also confuses things a bit, at least at first. What with the zodiac spirit, it’s unclear how much of Shigure’s love is real and how much isn’t up to him. That may factor in to whatever the hell is up with him now.

Cut to Tohru working on graduation ceremony flowers and nearly asking Shigure about breaking the curse. Of course, she can’t, because it’s hard to bring up, and she’s only seen 2 sides of Shigure at most. Naturally, he already knows what she’s thinking about, because he’s Shigure. He’s just that good.

Tohru continues to struggle even at school, when she realizes that there’s so much she knows that she probably can’t talk about with Momiji or Haru or anyone else. And since the curse is this ever-present thing to them, she’s not even sure if they’ll believe her or how they’ll react. Rin is the exception to this, of course, since she was already looking for information on it.

There are some shenanigans with the Prince Yuki Fan Club, and Tohru and Kyo are left alone (probably on purpose) by Hanajima, Uotani, and company. But I’ll get back to that in a sec.

Yuki tries to help out other classes with things, but they won’t let him because... well, uh, they think he’s too busy... and he... isn’t... I’m sorry, that’s just so funny to me. So anyway, he runs into Machi, who is being all adorable and stubborn because she wanted to say hello and chased him all over the school to do so. It’s cute, because Yuki’s not used to that much effort being put in to something for his sake. I love Machi like that UwU

Back to Tohru and Kyo, they’ve been waiting for HOURS. Tohru decides to tentatively try out her Kureno talking point, but as soon as she brings up the curse maybe being broken, Kyo tells her that hypotheticals like that are pointless (this is implied paraphrase). He does this mostly because he’s in that pit of despair of “I’m never getting out of this” but also because he doesn’t want to give himself a false hope that might never come true. Tohru, however, becomes sad, because of course she wants to save him from having to be locked away like the previous Cat. So there’s a bit of moment where she’s about to cry.

And then Kyo *sniffle* gives her a flower to make her feel better. *sobs*

Technically speaking, this scene should’ve been in the last season or SOMETHING, I honestly thought they WEREN’T going to put my FAVORITE scene in the anime, and then they did. What’s cute about this scene is how torn up Kyo is from hurting Tohru’s feelings, and how almost desperate he is to make her feel better. It’s a sweet moment, if slightly awkwardly animated, but it’s a rare Tohru and Kyo moment where they don’t even say anything and you can SEE everything they want to say. Of course, they’re interrupted, because they always are (HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT LIKE NEVER HAPPENS WHENEVER YUKI AND TOHRU HAVE A MOMENT?), but hey, I got my fluff, I am fed.

There’s brief mention of Rin and how Tohru hasn’t seen her lately, and I hate it because I know where she is.

Anyway, now on to Shigure being Shigure.

He’s torturing his poor editor again, and he walks away from what appears to have been a heated conversation with... HIS PARENTS. THEY EXIST. I dunno what it is with rarely seeing zodiac parents (besides the obvious cases of Kyo and Momiji), but there you have it. We see then that there’s a big Sohma dinner outing with Akito there, so clearly Shigure planned that. His skills of perception and foresight are serious scary, and I really wonder how the hell he developed them.

There’s a flashback to before Tohru and Kureno’s revealing conversation, and we see that Shigure hates Kureno for being so close to Akito. Of course, Kureno makes it clear that Akito doesn’t love him, that she’s always wanted.... well, he doesn’t say, but I think all of us are familiar enough with how this anime works that we know who he means. But Kureno basically wants Shigure to stop being so cold to Akito, and this is because of how much he wants to keep her happy more than any personal feelings about Shigure.

This is where it gets a bit dicey. I’ve actually got a strange fondness for this scene, if only because it sort of but also not really gets to the heart of why Shigure is the way he is.

Shigure appears in Akito’s room, and she’s basically jealous that he was out with another woman. Then she brings up his sexual relationship with his editor (nonexistent), which is rather petty, but then, when was this duo not about pettiness? The implication Akito makes is that he sleeps with every woman he meets (explains a lot). She then mentions that Shigure slept with Ren, Akito’s mother (I’m not going to touch on how screwed up that is), which is why he’s living in a house away from the main estate. Shigure acts all cool and says that was a long time ago, he’s been punished, but Akito points out that he almost wanted to leave. Which... he did, but not for any lack of love on his part. And he says that. He recalls the conversation we see at the beginning, in which he tells her he cares about her more than anyone else. Understandably, she’s frustrated, and she asks why he always tests her.

It’s because she slept with Kureno. Petty, I know.

The phone conversation comes back. Everything you need to understand about Shigure is in one sentence: “I love her so much that sometimes I want to spoil her rotten, and sometimes I want to crush her into a pulp.” This is nearly verbatim of the manga translation I read a long time ago, and it’s always stuck with me. The thing is, Akito was always told she’s special and she can do with the zodiac as she pleases (which she says directly in this episode). It seems a part of Shigure didn’t like that that extended to those that weren’t him (Kureno), and his love for her warped and twisted into this kinda toxic relationship. (Kinda, she says, as if it’s not very.) This makes him want to be kind to her, but at the same time, he wants to be mean to her and show her how much pain she’s put him through, too. It’s pettiness at its extreme, but it’s somehow more believable than other forms of petty jealousy I’ve seen.

Oh yeah, and then they have sex.

Once again, there’s brief mention of Rin, perhaps she’s in the hospital, we don’t really know. But the main part of this all is Shigure remembering that before Akito was born/in his life, he had always been sort of waiting for her, which is mostly the zodiac spirit talking but is also interesting nonetheless. How much of Shigure’s love is influenced by the zodiac curse? How much of it is him? I don’t know if we ever find that out, because frankly, the curse did a lot of things to everyone involved, including him.

I still love Shigure, don’t get me wrong, but this is SUCH an interesting episode.

Episode 3

Precisely the gif I wanted. Hehehe.

IT’S A MACHI EPISODE! AND I LOVE HER, SO THAT’S ALRIGHT!

Still pissed about Kyo’s screentime being so awful lately. ads;fkjsad;fklsda

Some student council shenangians occur as always, and it’s revealed that Nao has a crush on someone, which is why he declared Yuki to be his rival on day one. Also, Kimi is a golddigger.

Some girls come in and gossip about Machi making a mess again with one of her outbursts, and they mention a rumor about her trying to kill her brother, which is why she lives alone. Kakeru looks quite displeased to hear this, and Machi walks in on the conversation and runs away, with Yuki wanting to go after her.

Kakeru tells Yuki later that the rumor is “mostly true”--that is, that’s the story he’s been told as well. Of course, he’s wary to believe it, because while they’re not terribly close, he knows her a little better than the parents do. He then tells a story of seeing Machi making footprints in the snow, almost obsessively, and he’s not quite sure why she did it (but Kakeru has a Shigure streak, so I wonder if maybe he does know?).

So Kakeru decides to pull a sort of jerk move and visit Machi while with Yuki, and she tries to turn them away to no avail. Of course, Yuki isn’t put off by the mess, since he and Shigure used to live that way, so he’s all cheerful about it while Machi is dying in the corner. I will not talk much about the bra incident, but that was honestly the most hilarious few seconds.

Finally left alone, Machi asks why Yuki is there, assuming it’s about the rumor her classmates mentioned. She says she’s done trying to correct everybody, since no one ever seems to believe her anyway. (That is all too relatable, especially in high school.)

But Yuki doesn’t even mind. He asks something else instead: does she hate perfection? And she says yes. TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR.

Wait. My bad.

Anyway, Machi has a flashback to what I believe I’ve mentioned before, which is Machi’s mom forcing her to be perfect so that she could beat Kakeru in the succession war (England?) with her family. When that was called off, her mother would say right in front of her face (jerk) that Machi was boring. Machi asked her why she would say that when she was just trying to do what she was told. Her mother has the gall to be offended by the implication that it’s her fault (IT IS, YOU IDIOT--) and then turns around and says maybe she raised Machi wrong.

Here’s a hint: that’s not what you say to your CHILD.

Poor Machi didn’t know what to do with herself. What is she supposed to do if she’s just a “mistake” her mother made?

Yuki, in his cute way of knowing precisely what she means, tells her she’s worked hard to get where she is, and that he’s glad she’s here. She’s not used to compliments like that, and it’s a very sweet moment. That’s when she admits that she was just trying to take care of her brother, but her parents wrongly and automatically assumed she was jealous and trying to kill him (which says a lot about how god awful they are). And she’s finally able to let it out and cry with Yuki, who offers to go leave footprints in the snow with her.

My heart might’ve burst during that, not gonna lie--

I think my favorite part of the episode is the next day, during a student council meeting. A new, perfect box of chalk is placed in front of Machi, and you can see in her eyes that the perfection is about to make her snap. Yuki, knowing this, calmly reaches over and breaks a piece of chalk, ruining the “perfection” of it. It’s very sweet of him and a very cute moment for both.

Then we cut to Tohru handing Kyo a flower, which is whiplash to the previous episode I’m glad we got.

The next sequence was a bit confusing at first, as I thought we’d sort of covered this already in season one, but we get to see Motoko. She’s called Yuki out in order to tell him that he made her high school days happier, and that she truly loved him. Motoko also hopes that Yuki himself will find happiness, which I think is a nod at her recognizing Tohru’s influence on him. It’s kind of cute, because even Yuki seems to appreciate her words, and we get to cut to a nice graduation song that actually kind of made me cry.

Motoko is still in a classroom when someone finds her. It’s Nao, and it appears that she was the girl he was in love with, which I LOVE. I HOPE HE OR SHE OR THEY ARE HAPPY TOGETHER OR EVEN APART, JUST THAT HE EVENTUALLY GOT TO TELL HER OR SOMETHING AND AHHHHHH. He tells her that goodbye is not the end, and it always leads to “nice to meet you,” which is sweet for both of them, considering her graduation and his being left behind.

Then we get to meet Hiro’s baby sister, Hinata, a true cutie pie. I think I cried here, too, for different reasons.

Finally, we see Kagura having picked up Rin’s diploma (YAY SHE GRADUATED YAYYYY), and wondering where she is despite her mother’s warnings not to investigate. Hatori and Shigure are a bit suspicious, too, and we see Akito with a pair of scissors.... OwO

[I know what happened and I hate it.]

I’m glad I could finally do these, it’s been a couple of weeks of hell, to be honest. Hopefully, Fruits Basket will be back at it again and I’ll have something more to wax poetic about, haha. Thanks for reading!

#fruits basket #furuba #fruits basket final season #kyo and yuki loving hours #also tohru and machi loving hours #all day every day #i like how i highlighted these two couples with the gifs

10 notes · View notes

toku-explained · 3 years

Text

The 2 in 1 Eagle Pair

Trigger: Computer systems across Sorafune are infected by viruses, courtesy of Powered Dada. Like wow, that's a deep cut. Haruki and Kengo talk more as Akito uses the rescued Medals to create Z Hyper Keys of his other forms. With the virus cutting off computer systems at other TPU branches, GUTS-Select goes on high alert. An attempt to use old equipment allows them to pick up automated HQ broadcasts authorising autonomous operations. The Nursedessei has it's systems compromised. It's all hands on deck switching to manual, but Dada is managing to auto fire the Nurse Cannon and Nanase has to run a counter virus program, even Ignis is helping, as Kengo and Haruki manage to disconnect the Nurse Cannon's power right before a second shot fires. Dada instead takes control of King Joe to target Nursedessei, forcing Trigger Multi-type and Z Alpha Edge to fight it, after it uses all its forms they switch to using Power-type and Beta Smash. As Nanase gets control of the system back Dada avatars start appearing to attack the crew, when one attacks Akito, Yuzare takes over and destroys it, but then Yuna collapses. Dada appears to fight with King Joe, and Multi-type and Gamma Future hold it off until it tries fusing with King Joe, getting destroyed last second by Nurse Cannon. They switch to Sky-type and Delta Rise Claw, destroying King Joe but Haruki promising they'll repair him. Later Kengo thanks Haruki for his help, again stating how he's come to recognise Akito's help even if the man himself denies it. Akito gives permission to keep the Sparklencs, and so with Beliarok opening a dimensional tunnel, Z places King Joe's parts in a Travel Sphere and flies off, Akito agrees to grab ramen with Kengo. Akito returns to the lab to find Yuna, who can just remember Yuzare's action this time, and begs Akito to explain.

Galaxy Rescue Force: Sora is surprised by the appearance of Justice, bringing a message from Delacion to Queen Izana, who is unfortunately back on Kanon at the moment. Justice opts to wait, leaving Sora feeling awkward until Ribut arrives, impressed to hear Justice is associated with the Universal Justice. When Ribut thanks Justice for their help with Leugocyte Justice explains that Delacions wants to cooperate with the Land of Light and Galaxy Rescue Force in opposing Tartarus. They continue waiting, Ribut also feeling awkward, eventually running away to patrol, Justice eventually deciding to return the next day.

Revice: Wakabayashi demotes Kadota after both failing to defend the ViStamp lab and his failure with the Revice system, and requests Daiji persuade Ikki to fight for them. A caddie, Ibata, is fired by his boss, Araki, who has become irritated after his recent performance, Olteca appears to offer Ibata a ViStamp. Ibata summons tge Kamakiri Deadman. Ikkirefuses the contract, but when news of the Deadman attack appears still takes the belt, accidentally discovering Vice can possess his bike if it's stamped. They arrive and fight, until Vice tries to go eating again, Daiji passes Ikki the Eagle ViStamp, which turns them into the W themed Eagle Genome. Revi starts attacking Vice, who accidentally triggers their combined Eagle form to finish the Deadman, Vice then targets Araki until the transformation is cancelled. Ikki's family encourage him to help Fenix. Araki approaches the Deadmans, and the next day, when Ibara approaches to apologise, summons the Megalodon Deadman. When Vice mentions he told Araki unleashing your Akuma feels good Ikki transforms again to fight him until Daiji arrives to inform him of the Deadman, at which point he gives up the gear. Ikki and Daiji arrive at the golf course, where Fenix are already battling Giff Junior's, Ikki rushing in. He refuses tonuse the belt, since Vice will attack people again, but keeps fighting, until Vice swears to not attack humans anymore, making a contract to do as Ikki says, and Ikki now transforms again. Vice becomes envious of Ikki's Sealing Buster and borrows Daiji's Gunderphone. Ibata grabs Araki when he tries to power up his Deadman, wanting to put things right, and they combine into Rex form to finish the Deadman. Araki and Ibata make up,

Zenkaiger: No one has had any luck finding Mitsuko. Gaon offhandedly suggests she's escaped to some other world, and when Zox comes wanting an explanation for what happened in the last fight, Kaito asks for his help. Ijirude has no idea how Mitsuko escaped, Stacey confirming he'd put her in storage, and the Parallel World Gate was disrupted as she escaped thanks to Kudakk attack, so they don't know where she went, Stacey isn't sure this should have taken him away from the battle. Kaito, Zyuran and Magine join tge World Purates in travelling, with 20 or so worlds they can try, while Magine tries to divine where she is, Flint takes them to Kashiwa Mochitopia, where they meet the local version of Su-san, not having Kashiwa Mochi on your head there is comparable to public indecency. They try Retrotopia, where Su-san can't comprehend the Kikainoids. Kouritopia's Su-san has far less trouble with them, but hasn't seen Mitsuko, but Kaito is happy to see the freed worlds are at peace. Stacey and the Kudakks arrive, revealing Kudaiters gave been sent to other worlds for Mitsuko, as Gaon and Vroon, looking on earth, find. Kaito wants to split up to protect worlds, but Zox says they have to prioritise Mitsuko since the Tojitendo will just rampage until they find her. Su-san on Kinokotopia tries to have them stop attacking the mushrooms, as the Zenkaigers fight Flint declares she found Mitsuko, and Ijirude calls all forces there. When there the team shows they have Mitsuko, and fight. As things progress Stacey captures Mitsuko, but Kaito gets her back. Super Zenkaiser and Super Twokaiser destroy tge enemy forces, then they escape on CrocoDaiOh, Stacey essentially let's them go for Yatsude's sake, but is ordered by Ijirude to summon Black ZyuraGaon, which drags them back to Kouritopia, Zenkaijuoh facing the mecha and defeating it. They return home, and only now have Magine remove her disguise as Magine, since the Tojirendo won't go through other worlds if they think Mitsuko is home, just continue focusing on earth.

Yodonna 2: We start right where we left off, Mizuki distraught over the detective's betrayal, which Yodonna is able to understand due to her own betrayal by Yodon. The realisation that she has experienced sadness causes Yodonna to freeze. In Yodon hell, Hörn and Mose are in a meltdown over Yodonna's escape, Mose impulsively sends himself to earth after her. Yanako visits the Kuchinawa leader, whose eating whil watching his men give Shousuke a beating, Yanako wants to kill Mizuki. Mizuki retrieves the phone while bemoaning Yodonna's current state, but resolves not to burden Juru with her problems. She also finds herself feeling sluggish, unknown to her being due to the soul transfer. Mizuki arrives at the warehouse, where Enoshima is waiting with gang members, claiming his becoming corrupt was only natural. The regular lead goon grabs the phone, while Mizuki talks about how much Shousuke believed in him. The phone wiped, Enoshima reveals Shousuke isn't there, and they can't have her going around with what she knows. Yodonna takes control right as the fight begins, she's now experiencing anger on Mizuki's behalf. She starts fighting the goons, the boss watching via camera surprised by her skill and saying as much to Yanako. When shooting starts she uses a guy as a shield, and uses his gun to kill the goons. After admonishing Mizuki to exercise properly, she beats down the lead goon again. Enoshima puts a gun to her head, she steals it and shoots him in the knee. Mizuki changes back, happy thanks to Yodonna's help, she's really struggling to stay standing now, and Yodonna realises why. Mose approaches her, kills Enoshima for interrupting, then isn't sure what to do with Yodonna given the soul transfer. He intends to cut the hose, but then Yodonna will, disappear and there'll still be trouble for him with Hörn, better to let her steal Mizuki's life and then take her back. The revelation of what Yodonna was doing leads Mizuki to hate her too. At this point Yanako arrives and knocks Mizuki out. Mizuki wakes in the Kuchinawa offices, where Mose is waiting alongside Yanako and the leader, Kujirasaki. Mose has told them everything, and they seem content to wait out her death and let him have Yodonna after. Kujirasaki finds the whole situation amusing, and has Shousuke brought out so he can watch his sister die. As the process nears completion, Yodonna becomes visible and Mizuki starts fading. Yodonna explains the emotions she has learnt from Mizuki, and that she's realised she's just done to Mizuki what Yodon did to her. And so she pulls the tube out and destroys it. She's going to use the physical form she has until she fades to save Mizuki and Shousuke. She beats Yanako quickly. Goons drag Shousuke away, Mose in a panic uses Yodonna's whip to power up Kujirasaki. And then just goes back to Yodon Hell. Yodonna fights Kujirasaki, telling Mizuki to get Shousuke. As Yodonna and Kujirasaki are fairly evenly matched, Mizuki manages to disrupt the goons enough to free Shousuke. As Kujirasaki prepares an energy blast, Yodonna, knowing she's dead either way, swears to keep Misaki alive, and turns her whip into a scythe to block the blast. A final struggle fells Kujirasaki, and Shousuke declares him under arrest. Yodonna is glad to have won in time and collapses. Seeing Mizuki is alive she finds she's crying, Mizuki explaining she's feeling joy, right before Yodonna starts vanishing. Mizuki forgives her, and Yodonna fades gladly. Juru and Tametomo are still waiting for Mizuki, who finally gets back after Juru reminds Tame of his brief crush on Yodonna. Yodonna awakens back in Yodon hell, Hörn telling her that is she'd let him finish he was going to explain that if she could understand the 4 basic emotions he'd let her revive. He's already punishing Mose for running off after her. After reminiscing she asks if she can revive, but after her running off he's not going to allow it anymore. Unless she learns one more emotion, Love. She wonders who might teach her that...Tametomo perhaps?

#toku explained #kamen rider revice #kikai sentai zenkaiger #ultraman trigger #mashin sentai kirameiger

3 notes · View notes

lilyginnyblackv2 · 4 years

Text

Fruits Basket - ED 4 - Eden - My Thoughts On It (SPOILERS)

The endings have been pretty interesting:

The first ED (Lucky Ending), visually, was all about these characters forming a bond with Tohru. They were all gathering around her near the tree and the lyrics talked about how things “changing.” Tohru is the catalyst for these changes.

The second ED (One Step Closer) was about how the Zodiac members were all getting closer to those changes - to the goals and aspirations that we being set up in the first season, and which we are finally starting to see come about in this season (I’ll actually be mentioning one of the lyrics from the this ED in today’s write up for S2, E15).

ED three (ad meliora) was visually and lyrically a song about God and the Zodiac members. About their eternal bond with each other.

But ED four (Eden) seems to be about the Zodiac members being thankful to God for that bond, but realizing that bond isn’t healthy and wanting to begin breaking away from it, wanting to form new, healthier bonds of love (thank you for the eternity together, love isn’t loneliness, you taught me how to love). Some of those lyrics come from the full song, rather than just the lyrics present in the OP. But yeah, overall this song feels like it is about the Zodiac characters moving forward toward their own individual Edens (the people they love). Learning to live for the sake of another because of the love they feel, rather than the bond of eternity they share.

When it comes to lyrics and image combinations, the lyrics as a whole can fit with the Zodiac members and God well, especially the line:

I note the days that have gone by, And the way our appearances have changed, But I won’t cry about any of that anymore. Because, in some time and some place, we will meet again.

This is why Kyoko’s image is presented when there are no lyrics, just the music playing, since she isn’t connected in any way (really) to the bond or the Curse. There are some interesting specific match-ups between the lyrics and characters though:

Kyo’s image is accompanied by the lyrics that talk about saying “Good-bye” and how they “won’t be returning tomorrow.” This ties into the Zodiac myth and the original promise made between God and the Cat. The Cat died - they said good-bye to God, and had no intention of “returning” in the sense of their spirit being reincarnated again and again so that they could remain together forever. So this lyric represents that desire the Cat had to move on.

Kureno’s image has the lyrics that talk about how the “wish that was left behind” has blows in the wind, from dirt to ashes like cherry blossoms. Kureno is the only Zodiac member (at this point in the story) whose Curse has broken. The “wish” the bond is no longer there - it is ashes (dead).

Akito’s image, as well as Tohru’s image, are paired with the lyrics “It’s never too late.” Akito is the last one to really accept change and moving on from the bond. Akito is also the last one to really reach out to Tohru and accept her love and support. So this fits with the idea that “It’s never too late” to reach out to someone, to change, to let go of an unhealthy relationship dynamic and move towards something healthier, etc. etc.

I like the steady journey that the EDs of Furuba are painting, with the first ED setting the framework of major change starting - with the introduction of Tohru into their lives, the second ED speaking of the characters starting to look toward those changes and make the first steps to make those changes a reality, the third ED establishing the bond and connection that they have with God that challenges those changes and keeps blocking the forward movement the characters are trying to make, and this current ED that highlights how this second half of the season is going to be about the characters truly starting to struggle against that bond, challenge the status quo, and start making those others bonds that they have stronger. We can see examples of all of these things in upcoming events:

- Rin’s desperate desire to break the curse. Tohru’s as well.

- Rin finally bonding with Tohru.

- Yuki firmly establishing his friendship with the Student Council and his and Machi;s relationship deepening. Him choosing to spend time with the Student Council over New Years (and Tohru).

- Kyo and Tohru entering their “extreme pinning stage.”

- Momiji’s bond with Momo being brought back into the picture and her wanting to have a bond with him.

- And plenty of other smaller moments too.

Of course, these are just my thoughts and interpretations of the songs, lyrics, and imagery in them. It’s music and art, so there are a variety of ways to understand and interpret things and I feel the Furuba OPs and EDs do that really well too. I swear, extra thought and care has gone into the creation of all of the OPs and EDs, far more than what you usually tend to see with anime, and I really appreciate the extra effort.

#Fruits Basket #Furuba #Fruits Basket manga spoilers #Furuba spoilers #Fruits Basket spoilers #FB spoilers #Fruits Basket Season 2 #Furuba Season 2 #analysis #thoughts #long post

59 notes · View notes

truesymphony · 4 years

Text

New Traditions

Some time had passed since the curse had finally broken. Everyone had begun to mend and finally move forward. It was a new chapter for the Sohma family. It had been good for everyone. New relationships began to blossom and old ones were renewed. Akito had finally accepted herself and now was trying to live her life as herself. She had been especially close with Tohru. The two women would get together every week to talk over tea. Akito was trying hard to be better and it showed in everything she did. Because of that, Akito had extended out an invitation to celebrate the holidays together. They had done this in the past but this time would be different. Everyone was going to enjoy.

The days leading up to Christmas had been stressful. Akito was working hard to truly make things special. Shigure insisted that she was worrying too much but she didn’t think so. After all, it was going to be the first time everyone got together in a long time and more importantly, it was the first time that they had gotten together without any hostility.

Time moved very quickly and soon it was the night before everyone was suppose to arrive. Akito had done most of the work herself since Shigure was always missing when she needed him. It left her feeling achy and tired. She was trying to shove down her annoyance as she headed up to her room.

Shigure was there waiting in bed with his glasses on reading over what was most likely a draft to his new book. A scowl formed on Akito’s features as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

“You could have helped.” Akito said as she glanced back at him.

“Why bother? We don’t even know for sure if anyone other than Tohru will come.” replied Shigure without even looking up from his papers. “Not everyone is ready to be forced to gather here again.”

Her features instantly softened going from anger to pain. Deep down she knew he was right. They had forgiven her but that didn’t mean that they wanted to make up. As much as she wanted to make amends, she could no longer force them all to come there and listen to her.

“They are our family.” Akito spat back. Right now she didn’t need this. She was trying but it wasn’t enough. She moved to get up but she felt a hand wrap around hers holding her still.

Shigure moved shifting closer to her so his lips hovered inches above her neck. “You can’t force them to love you, but I love you.” his lips brushed against her skin causing her to relax against his chest. He wasn’t trying to hurt her, he only wanted her to be realistic. There were no guarantees when it came to the others.

“I will be here and we can celebrate our first Christmas together. After all these years, I think I have earned it.” His voice was firm yet warm. It was clear he was excited for it even if no one else was.

She gave a grunt in response as she moved to curl up with him. Not that was was willing to say it to him, but he did make a good point. She finally had the opportunity for a real celebration with Shigure. She needed to focus on that. It wasn’t going to be easy but she was going to try.

her hand traveled along the nape of his neck to rest against the base of his neck. Finger drug along his scalp raking through his hair. If nothing else she could enjoy this moment right here. Her lithe frame shifted to rest against him and she pressed her head to his chest listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. In that moment everything else disappeared and she felt content to let go of everything.

Soon Shigure looked down to see her peacefully asleep on his chest. He loved her with every fiber of his being but even he forgot sometimes just how fragile she could be. He hadn’t truly realized how much this had meant to her. He laid there for the longest time just watching her. First an hour passed, then two then three, he had tried to sleep but his own thoughts kept him up. he was racking his brain trying to figure out how to make sure everything went over well for her sake.

The sunlight soon crept through the curtains and Shigure knew he would not be resting anytime soon. he carefully wriggled out from her grasp to get to his feet. he gave her one finally look before padding to the phone. For the next hour he called each of their family trying to find out who was coming. he was mostly greeted with angry grumbles since it was so early but after they calmed down he had explained how Akito was looking forward to spending time together with all of them. He hoped that it would reach them and he would be able to give his girlfriend the gift she wanted most in the world.

The sound of footsteps caused him to hastily hang up the phone and he scrambled to get to the kitchen trying to pretend he was doing something else. Soon Akito stood behind him eyeing him like he was up to no good; though in all fairness he usually wasn’t doing anything “good”.

“Good morning.” Shigure’s voice was cheery as he leaned down to kiss his love. “I finally got something done on my book. Mit-Chan is going to be so happy!” he said as he moved to begin a pot of tea.

“Not that you will give it to her on time.” Akito huffed as she looked at him. “Though if you got that done that must mean you can actually help me today.”

A small bead of sweat rolled down Shigure’s head at that. he didn’t want to do that but he didn’t see how he was going to get out of it. he quickly began to think of all the possible excuses he could come up with. There were none that Akito was going to allow him to get away with. “What do you need?” he asked clearly unamused by the idea of actually having to work.

Akito rolled her eyes as she moved to set two glass out on the tray. “I asked everyone to be here for gifts at one.” she informed him though she was beginning to question if anyone would show up. No one had said they were coming.

He gave her a nod then went over to the fridge to fumble around for something to eat. Neither of them cooked so usually it was left up to the help but today was a holiday so he wasn’t expecting much aside of them. “We can put in the food around that time too.” he said poking at some mystery container in the fridge. he knew it was bought for this so he had left it alone for now.

They continued with their morning settling on a cold breakfast. It hadn’t been satisfying but the promise of a nice meal in the evening made it worth it. Shigure just kept thinking about that. At the very least Tohru would show up and save the day. That girl never could let anyone down. Not even Akito.

One O’clock crept up and no one had arrived. The disappointment was clear on her face. Shigure had truly tried everything he could to avoid it. he wanted this to be a good experience. He wanted their family to mend. Clearly it was too soon.

“We can still celebrate together.” Shigure said as he hugged her from behind burying his face against her shoulder. It was a small gesture he was hoping would help at least a little. But by the way she was tensing, he could tell it hadn’t done that.

He stood there just holding her. He felt her shoulders starting to shake and he knew she was beginning to cry. That broke his heart. He had never been the best though everything he had done was for her. after a moment he felt her turn to him. her face nestled against his chest as she cried. the tears began to make his shirt damp causing it to stick to his skin.

Silence overcame them. Nothing Shigure said would easy the feeling inside of her. His usual snappy comments would only make it worse. He reminded there trying to comfort her.

Another hour passed, then another and another. The sky had began to dim and even Tohru had let her down. There seemed to be nothing that would make this better.

With all hope lost, Akito began to clean up the festive decorations and gifts. If no one was going to come then they werent going to get them. She had began to shove things in a heavy duty trash back. This day was the worst and she just wanted it to be over.

“Akito-San?” A soft voice called to her causing the woman to turn around. There standing in the living room was Tohru, Kyo and many of their family. They were late but they were there. “Sorry we are so late, we had to get something ready for you.” The cheeriness in her voice caused Akito to tremble. It was clear she was struggling to stay composed.

“Yeah some idiot didn’t make his train.” Kyo grumbled shooting Yuki a rather dirty look.

“Whatever, you could have came without us.” The silver haired boy said rolling his eyes as he pulled Machi inside. “Not like you ever did me any favors anyways.”

Akito’s eyes moved along the group gathered in their home. She had been so worried for nothing. She had to remind herself to never listen to Shigure again. “It’s fine.”

“Here let me help.” Tohru said as she walked over to take the bag from her friend’s hand. She began to pull out the gifts handing them to Kyo. he made his way over to the table placing them all out in an orderly fashion trying to make it look nice. It wasn’t.

Shigure had slithered his way into the group and was standing beside the doctor giving him a look. “you could have came sooner.” he said as he looked at his oldest friend though Hatori simple gave a small grunt before walking over to the others.

his phone calls may have saved the day or maybe it was Tohru. Whatever the reason they were all together. That was all Akito had wanted and now they could really celebrate.

“What about food?” Shigure asked causing Akito to give him an evil look. It was reminiscent of before the curse broke. If he were anyone else, it might have sent chills down his spine but instead, he knew it meant later would be rather interesting.

Tohru looked around then began to Akito. “Let’s go cook together.” She offered as she held her hand out.

Soon they were in the kitchen busying themselves. the house began to smell like heaven as everyone gathered to catch up. There were stories of University from Yuki and news of wedding plans from Hatsuharu and Momiji talking about his plans in business. It seemed everything was finally falling into place just as it should.

It was clear to Shigure he was the reason for this. Taking in that girl really had been the best decision he had ever made. she touched them all and it carried through making everyone better.

“It’s time to eat!” Tohru called and the Sohmas scrambled around the table to sit together. For the first time, everyone was included and the cat took his place beside Tohru. Laughter filled the air as everyone talked and discussed more plans. This was better than any banquet they had every pictured.

“After this we get gifts, ja?” Momiji said looking to Akito. After all, he had been eyeing them all night.

Akito’s face softened as she looked over to him. “yes.” Of course that was what they wanted. This was a new tradition. Them actually getting something that they would enjoy from one of these gatherings.

“There isn’t anything for you though.” Kisa spoke softly looking to Akito.

“I have my gift already.” Came the reply as Akito gaze around the table to the family that had gathered to celebrate this joyous day together. It was all that she really wanted.

Tohru’s hand found Akito’s and she smiled. “This is a lovely gift you have given us already. I’m so happy.” Tears flowed down the brunette’s cheeks as she squeezed her hand tightly.

It the first Christmas that began a new tradition for the Sohmas. Each year they would gather like this and enjoy food and fellowship as their family continued to grow.

@lgbtfurubanet & @gaymirajane

#furubaexchange2019 #lgbtfurubanet #[ akito x shigure ]#gaymirajane

2 notes · View notes