Furuba 124
Mar. 22nd, 2006 02:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
demeter918I 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...
