demeter918 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
demeter918) wrote2006-03-22 02:21 pm
demeter918) wrote2006-03-22 02:21 pm
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Furuba 124
I managed to pick up a copy of hanatoyume from a combini when I got back from Korea and...
At first, I didn't quite know how to swallow this chapter. It was, after all, a huge step forward for Akito in terms of how she is. We're not talking about realizing one mistake or deciding that a personal philosophy was wrong.
This is her whole life we're looking at. How does it feel for her to look back on twenty long years and realize that nearly everything was wrong, that she was wrong, that her life was wrong? I'm not sure if people are going to understand what a staggering undertaking this is for her. Really, for anyone. How is one able to even face reality after all that? I realize that there will be people cheering that her power over her Juunishi has finally been broken, and I agree. For Akito's sake, this is the best way if not the only way. But I'd rather her revelation not be taken for granted. Granted, she was pushed, quite hard. But if Akito had wanted to, she could have just as easily continued to live in her fantasy world. That would have been the easy way because undoubtedly, while some might leave her, the power of the curse would bind most to her for the rest of their lives.
There's a reason why the curse has lasted so long.
I really am in awe of Momiji. A long, long (really long) time ago, I'd selected him, Kagura, and Ritsu as three of my favorite characters besides Akito (and Hatori and Shigure and Kureno once he entered the scene...). It was his hope and his ability to see the good in everything (in a different way from Tohru- not necessarily better; but different nonetheless) that drew me to him. To be honest, he'd kind of left my mind by now, mostly because I so preoccupied with the Akito question... but seeing him. Seeing oOmiji take te first step into healing the fractured relationship the Juunishi have with Akito. I started crying because this is Momiji and this is Akito and we have never seen the two of them interact like this before. I don't think we've ever seen Akito interact with any of her younger Juunishi in such an open manner.
And finally, finally, finally, someone other than Kureno or Hatori or Shigure saw Akito as someone oter than tyrant. I don't doubt that Momiji feels some sort of underlying dislike and mistrust of Akito, but he also realizes that Akito has ever been comfortable in her own skin. In his own way, Momiji sweeps that all away and I couldn't believe my eyes at reading what he chose to do. He hands her his handkerchief and smiles... and it's Momiji! It's Momiji's smile!
*silly fangirl moment*
Akito really is beautiful, isn't she? When she smiled, my heart just about stopped, because it made her look happy and it was so, so, so, so cute! Forbid that I ever use that word with her, but Akito really is quite gorgeous. It's different from Tohru, different from Rin, different from all the other female figures. She has a unique beauty somewhat unheard of in shoujo manga. And I absolutely adore it.
And the moments between Akito and Kureno? It was such a huge leap and jump and I felt so freaking happy for the two of them. Because Akito does care and Kureno must have the biggest heart in the world. The first thing he asks about upon waking? Akito.
Ironically, Shigure, you've been pushed out of the way. Kureno will forevermore be the man who was pivotal in the direction she was walking. While you were pushing and you were nudging in order to gain your ultimate goal (whatever that may be), Kureno, through loyalty and love that I can't even quite fathom, did it by simply putting his hand on her head. All her words spiralled just into one... "gomen, gomen, gomen" which is just absolutely powerful.
I'm blown away by this chapter, no less by the fact that Takaya-sensei had the sense to devote the first half to an hysterical 'confrontation' between Kyo, Uo, and Hana. It's like in-laws... times fifty. ;)
Am so pleased with Furuba right now...
At first, I didn't quite know how to swallow this chapter. It was, after all, a huge step forward for Akito in terms of how she is. We're not talking about realizing one mistake or deciding that a personal philosophy was wrong.
This is her whole life we're looking at. How does it feel for her to look back on twenty long years and realize that nearly everything was wrong, that she was wrong, that her life was wrong? I'm not sure if people are going to understand what a staggering undertaking this is for her. Really, for anyone. How is one able to even face reality after all that? I realize that there will be people cheering that her power over her Juunishi has finally been broken, and I agree. For Akito's sake, this is the best way if not the only way. But I'd rather her revelation not be taken for granted. Granted, she was pushed, quite hard. But if Akito had wanted to, she could have just as easily continued to live in her fantasy world. That would have been the easy way because undoubtedly, while some might leave her, the power of the curse would bind most to her for the rest of their lives.
There's a reason why the curse has lasted so long.
I really am in awe of Momiji. A long, long (really long) time ago, I'd selected him, Kagura, and Ritsu as three of my favorite characters besides Akito (and Hatori and Shigure and Kureno once he entered the scene...). It was his hope and his ability to see the good in everything (in a different way from Tohru- not necessarily better; but different nonetheless) that drew me to him. To be honest, he'd kind of left my mind by now, mostly because I so preoccupied with the Akito question... but seeing him. Seeing oOmiji take te first step into healing the fractured relationship the Juunishi have with Akito. I started crying because this is Momiji and this is Akito and we have never seen the two of them interact like this before. I don't think we've ever seen Akito interact with any of her younger Juunishi in such an open manner.
And finally, finally, finally, someone other than Kureno or Hatori or Shigure saw Akito as someone oter than tyrant. I don't doubt that Momiji feels some sort of underlying dislike and mistrust of Akito, but he also realizes that Akito has ever been comfortable in her own skin. In his own way, Momiji sweeps that all away and I couldn't believe my eyes at reading what he chose to do. He hands her his handkerchief and smiles... and it's Momiji! It's Momiji's smile!
*silly fangirl moment*
Akito really is beautiful, isn't she? When she smiled, my heart just about stopped, because it made her look happy and it was so, so, so, so cute! Forbid that I ever use that word with her, but Akito really is quite gorgeous. It's different from Tohru, different from Rin, different from all the other female figures. She has a unique beauty somewhat unheard of in shoujo manga. And I absolutely adore it.
And the moments between Akito and Kureno? It was such a huge leap and jump and I felt so freaking happy for the two of them. Because Akito does care and Kureno must have the biggest heart in the world. The first thing he asks about upon waking? Akito.
Ironically, Shigure, you've been pushed out of the way. Kureno will forevermore be the man who was pivotal in the direction she was walking. While you were pushing and you were nudging in order to gain your ultimate goal (whatever that may be), Kureno, through loyalty and love that I can't even quite fathom, did it by simply putting his hand on her head. All her words spiralled just into one... "gomen, gomen, gomen" which is just absolutely powerful.
I'm blown away by this chapter, no less by the fact that Takaya-sensei had the sense to devote the first half to an hysterical 'confrontation' between Kyo, Uo, and Hana. It's like in-laws... times fifty. ;)
Am so pleased with Furuba right now...
no subject
I love how Kureno was the first person Akito apologized to. It's so wonderful and fitting, and I am interested to see what Shigure thinks of it. I'm also glad that Akito is finally realizing what a gentle influence Kureno was in her life, rather than the negative one she accused him of being in Chapter 118. To the very end, he's a beautiful person, and she's finally allowing herself to see that.
no subject
... and I could be delusional. -_- It makes me wonder how canon!Akito will now react to the entrance of Uo...
no subject
I loved everything about this chapter. Akito is just... she's just taking leaps forward. It's probably harder to get up than to actually fall (though who Akito is right now is the result of many many things put together) and she is being so brave. What impresses me the most is that she seems to know, intuitively, what to do.
So far we have been used to seeing everyone doing everything for her, which was one of my main concerns about her moving forward. What happens now to Akito? She doesn't/can't do anything on her own! But this chapter has shown me just how strong she is and how capable. This is probably a little thing and it might not be much for most people, but it really impressed me: she went to the hospital on her own (or at least, we assume). To me, that was just amazing. The very action of getting to the hospital by herself implies a degree of independence that I did not think she had and I could not imagine her being capable of. How did she know how to get there? How did she actually get there? I learned to drive only two, three years ago, and the first times I went out by myself I was completely terrified. I was afraid I'd get lost and not know what to do, I was afraid I would not know how to react to things, emergencies, I was afraid I wouldn't go fast enough, or slow enough, or whatever (oh, so immature!). It was a big deal for me. I mean, even now I don't go out to any place I don't know without having my mapquest directions with me. She probably did not drive there, but my point is that for someone who is not used to doing things like that the prospect sometimes seems too much to handle, yet she had to get to the hospital, and she did. That gives me so much hope for her future and for her adapting to a new, healthier life.
The parts with Momiji were really too beautiful. I had wondered why Momiji, but after reading your post I realize who else could it have been? I see now that this has been in the makings for a long time. From the beginning we see Momiji's enormous capacity to love, to forgive and move on taking both the good and the bad, and now that Akito needs the strength to continue walking this path it is Kureno and Momiji who are offering the first assurances. Had it been someone else, someone less disposed to forgive, what would she have done? Even though Kureno was hurt the most, Kureno could remember a time when Akito was "different" but for Momiji to just know Akito as the cruel God and still be able to offer that smile... wow. It was such a beautiful moment.
And Kureno. I just have to love him completely. I love how you phrased this:
"Ironically, Shigure, you've been pushed out of the way. Kureno will forevermore be the man who was pivotal in the direction she was walking.
I can't wait to see what Shigure will do now. Overall, things are probably playing out as he expected, more or less, but I am not sure if he is prepared to handle or accept the fact that it was Kureno. I guess he also has some moving on to do, and I so hope he does!
Thank you so much for your wonderful comments. And, how did your trip go? Were you able to eat your way through Korea like you had hoped? I hope you had a great time, and, again, thanks so much for your thought-provoking post :-)
no subject
What I see is the surprising addition of certain things not often explored in shoujo manga in Japan. Takaya is acknowledging the fact that not everything is as easy as people think they should be for all. It's the idea that what's easy for one person is difficult for another, and I may be seeing too much into it, but I felt a resonance with the built-in-stone path that so many Japanese people take to keep with societal standards.
What I really want to see is more Momiji and Akito moments from when they were young! Can you imagine how cute that would be? And how might Akito have been in reaction to Momiji's mother's declaration of disgust and hatred of her child? One thing I've always found a bit weird was the lack of anything happening to her since, after all, Akito has a hatred of women, mothers in particular.
Korea was fantastic, but Taiwan was even better since I got to read myself through a mountain of manga. XD