I was trying to see if I can find a clip of Hosoya-san’s Prayer in Tenipuri feast as I saw someone talk about how she got the DVD. I didn’t manage that yet but I found another piece of good news.

Katanagatari is a light novel that is being adapted into an anime and the first episode has been released. (January 25 2010) and there is a total of twelve episodes and it would be released on a monthly basis. According to Wikipedia, the second episode would be released on February 8^th, while the third episode would be released on March 8^th.

The reason that I am so excited about this is because Hosoya-san is in it AS THE MAIN CHARACTER!!! This is the first time that I have heard about this story but I am going to watch it since Hosoya-san is the main character and from what I have seen, it seems pretty cool.

But I am really glad that he got a role as a main character and I hope that this is an indication of the future, that he would get more important roles.

Due to this I was looking at his page on Wikipedia and much to my surprise, I saw that he is in ‘Maid-sama’ although I don’t think he is an important character. However, I was really shocked because I just learnt about the manga from my friend the other day and I actually read part of it although it was due to a different reason. Hmm…I might consider watching the anime then (from the bit I read in the manga, it wasn’t that bad). But according to Wikipedia his character is a bit perverted and like erotic things, and used to be a delinquent. I actually sort of want to see that- it’d be the first time that I see a character that he voiced having both of these traits. XD

The anime would be released in Spring 2010 so that is pretty soon, and the cast list is out already so…

PS: I am such an idiot! I forgot to put down his character’s name! in “maid sama” his character is Kurosaki Ryuunosuke

Written: December 26 - 27

Author’s Note: Inspired by a mixture of the drama and manga. Set when the F4 along with Tsukushi, Yuuki, Shigeru and Chinami went to the skiing resort to celebrate Tsukasa’s recovery (Even though he still has amnesia. A conversation with Umi made Chinami realise the changes she went through due to her relationship with Akira developing

Author’s Note: I wrote this on Christmas eve- a Christmas fiction for Hana yori dango.

Written: December 13, 2009.

Author’s Note: Due to having a particularly bad day, Akira and Chinami ended up going for a short holiday in Spain, and this helped him to realise that his friends does care for him.

Written: December 10, 2009.

Author’s Note: This extract work with the idea that Chinami actually got kidnapped by Junpei and the others and ended up got her hair cut. As Akira helps her to deal with the aftermath, he began to re-examine his relationship with Chinami and reaches a new understanding about himself..

written: October 26, 2009.

Summary: A Mimasaka Akira x OC (Chinami) fiction. Contain spoiler for the special chapter about his character. Due to seeing his reluctance at going home, Chinami (his possible fiancée) invites him to her house and he actually realises that she is very like him.

Author’s Note: Due to seeing extracts of the drama and re-reading the manga I realise that Mimasaka Akira is my favourite character, but there is so little fan fiction on him. In addition, I always like the idea of having an OC so this is the result. The OC- Takashi Chinami is the niece of a mafia boss, as I have decided to follow the idea in the manga, that Mimasaka’s family own a trading company and has dealings with the underground.

I wrote this in October, quite some time ago, when I was having a really stressed moment.

Written: December 24, 2009

Summary: During the performance of the school play, Shiraishi ended up forgetting that he is actually acting due to the play being a bit too familiar to what happened between him and Ashita.

Written: December 14 – 16, 2009

Author’s Note: The idea of this story came when I thought about the last story- the idea is that Nakatya refuses to marry Hiiragi despite the situation and in a way, it show that one of the barrier that they have is their own pride.

I realise not having prompts has a new problem, I have to think of actual titles so much more.

Written: January 15, 2010

Written: January 15, 2010

Author’s Note: involves the scenario in ‘Welcome back’. When Watanabe and Aizuki knew each other ever since junior high due to being semi Juvenal delinquents.

As I said in this entry, self sacrifice is a characteristic that I really like and due to reading Pandora hearts made me realise that there are specifics type of self sacrifice that I like.

1.      Rulership complex: the idea that due to your position as a leader, as someone in authority, you wish to let the people that you are responsible for to have happiness or just somehow benefit. You would achieve this by sacrificing yourself for this. Example- Nasatya (Haruka 4) Shiraishi (prince of tennis)

2.      A deep devotion: being willing to do anything and everything for this specific person. All that you want is for them to have whatever they want. Note- this does not apply in reverse harem situations. It does not always have to be for lovers, it can be for siblings as well. Example- Hojo Masako (Haruka 3) Vincent (Pandora Hearts)

Then there is the general type of self sacrifice.

I just suddenly thought why not and decided to read the manga. Well, the story is quite interesting but the thing that surprised me the most is who actually ended up being my favourite character.

My sister and I sort of had this mini bet/game of trying to guess each other’s favourite characters. It was quite funny actually. Because after I finished reading the manga, she actually said: “We can rule out Vincent because he is a certified nutcase.” On the other side of the computer I was actually thinking: “Hahaha, in a way you got it on one.” Yes, my favourite character from Pandora Hearts is actually Vincent Nightray who is crazy, psychotic and even sadistic. This is probably what happened when she got it right.

 

The one with the ribbon represent me and I must admit, I was surprised myself while the other is clearly very very surprised, as evident by the wide opening mouth. As for why Vincent is portrayed with a pair of scissors, Vincent has a tendency of cutting up toys with scissors- dissecting them. But appearance wise he has long hair!

Initially, it was just interest. I was not overly interested in the story or the characters. The scene that made me interested in Vincent was when he kidnapped Sharon and poisoned her, telling Break that he would give the antidote if Break destroys the memories of what happened a century ago. I must admit, at that moment I felt that it was just all really typical. We have Sharon doing the typical “No, you must not do this for me” and with Break ended up doing the very opposite. I must admit, I got interested when Vincent was going to be a bastard by dropping the antidote after Break did what he wanted. I guess in a way it was a typical action too but I was quite surprised as I didn’t expect that he would break his promise like that, I really thought that he was going to give it to Break. I must admit, I thought that he was very interesting at that point, different from the rest.

But this instinct of mine is quite good because Vincent actually does have a quality that I really really like. He is very devoted to his brother (Gilbert) although due to his characteristic it is probably a twisted devotion. However, Vincent does clearly love his brother as he said that he hated Alice for making Gilbert angry and later on, when he opened the door, he did say that this time he would be the one who protected Gilbert, since it was usually Gilbert who protected him. The reason that he opened the door and caused the tragedy of Sabriel was because he wanted to save Gilbert and I think I can understand why he would do that. I feel that he would do it again even after he knew the consequences of his actions, because I feel that he did not at that time. But I think I can understand, I mean, the world has been so cruel to him and now it was going to take away the only one person that he actually cared about, so I can understand why he might not feel bad that the rest of the world would suffer as long as Gilbert is safe. Although, I don’t think he is completely immune because I feel that the fact that he does not want anyone to know what happened a hundred years ago is very interesting and very symbolic as well, although I am not sure what exactly it meant. Contrary to Break, I don’t think it is fear of letting other people know.

Vincent is sadistic as he did say that he doesn’t mind seeing his brother suffer. But I really like this sort of devotion- how everything you do would just be for that one person. Vincent did say that Gilbert is the most important person to him and he would do anything that Gilbert want (but the problem is that he would also do stuff that Gilbert does not want.) but at one point he actually said the following to Gilbert: “As long as it is your wish then I would like to fulfil it.” I must admit, I have a weakness for such a line.

On a total side note, I actually recognise Echo’s seiyuu as the same one was Ame in Denpa teki no kanojo and she actually speaks in a similar way. The whole “on the order of my master”, “as long as it is my master’s wish” and all that. Vincent is actually voiced by Fukuyama Jun- totally suitable. The type of psychotic characters who speak very calmly and even a bit gently at times. I think one of the scary things about Fukuyama’s character is that you often get a sense of you have not seen them mad yet, despite what had happened, which is why the character is really scary. But at one point, there is a scene when Vincent said: “I am so happy that niisan has come to find me”. I suddenly had a really serious case of déjà vu. If you swapped the niisan with neesan then it would be a direct scene from cloverland.

A problem that I have with the story is that every time I see Break I think: “Urahara from Bleach. Urahara from Bleach”. And then Glen come out and he really remind me of Yasuhira, if he has longer hair then I might seriously get him confused with Yasuhira as the basic hair style is the same.

Ichito

You meet Ichito when he is fighting Takatora and the others will tell you that he was once an exorcist but he ended up going on the wrong path, as he now uses other people’s body in order to gain more power. He is an undead spirit. The body that he is using right now is actually Takatora’s brother. The reason that he is blinded is because when he was fighting Takatora’s brother- he deliberately blinded the other so that he would suffer, as he says that the strongest person cannot be immune if that happened to them- having one eye blinded.

Despite him having his own route, what happened to him still has to be pieced together from the other routes.

Aya will say that he and his companion tired to challenge the gods and were punished as a result. Ichito will say the same thing. He lost his body but has a spirit that can live forever while his companion lost their spirit and become a body that lives forever. Initially, I really thought that his companion was Yasutsuna since the other hinted that his body cannot die and at one stage he say that he can only continue on being like this (which was what Ichito himself said). Ichito plans to summon Chikage as well as using Aya to open the gateway of the underworld- where his companion is.

Aya also says that he and his companion were very close- inseparable, and he is resentful at being the one who is left behind. He does show that he is bitter at being the one who is left behind as the other person did not wait for him. He says that this is all hopeless but he does not have any other choices, he could only be like this forever. He is actually over 200 years old and he told the PC that he has been searching for his companion ever since. In Shuichirou’s route, Ichito will summon Chikage and kills some of the other demons. When she ask him why he kills his companion, he will laugh and say that he have no such a thing as companions. I am sure that this is definitely a sign of his resentment against Futaba.

In Takatora’s route the PC would use her powers to kill him and it seems that he would die for real this time. Takatora will ask him about what he really plans and he says that he just want to see that person again, even though he knows it is impossible, so he is really just on a progress of self destruction. But as he dies, he says: “I will find you one day, Futaba.” The kanji of his own name is ‘one/single person’ while the character given for Futaba seems to be ‘Two/double leaf. Initially I thought that his companion was like a blood brother but I feel that Futaba is a feminine name. But from the way he describes the other, the implication is that they were comrades/family, not lovers. When he talks to the PC he will say that he wants to get his family back and so I think the person he search for is not a lover but a comrade. A platonic relationship. I don’t think the names are a coincidence so I think it might be a younger sister or a cousin.

Kagachi will once make a comment about how his body reeks as it is the body of a corpse and he will also say:” and you hate that smell too, don’t you?”

His route is obscure and I don’t feel that it is done very well as there seem to be a sense of him just suddenly choosing to be with the PC. Still, Hosoya-san voiced him so well (and he also voiced Takatora’s real brother and when he is speaking as that character, his voice was really gentle)

Although this character began as a bit of a pervert…I feel that this is a case where the punishment would only backfire. I mean, how can he not go psycho if such a punishment is given to him?

But his route is so obscure, he and the PC have a few private conversations and they will then decide to sort this out themselves. In order to get the good ending, the PC must be really powerful as she would have enough abilities to make him into her familiar. I don’t really get it as it seems that he will be gone when she dies, and instead of being a spirit in a dead body, he would now be semi-alive. But the idea seems to be that the two of them are quite attracted to each other due to their brief meetings although it is obscure.

The ending is the PC and Ichito being sent to do many missions as the main family is quite angry with her decision. But I feel that since these two are so powerful, it is not a problem at all. But Ichito would say something really nice to the PC- he will ask her whether it is better if he is not by her side since she does not seem to be very happy, as they seem to be condemned and she would ask him whether he liked that her better. But he will tell her that he does not know as does not know that her. But he tell her that she should realise how much she means to him since he gave up his goal of 200 years in order to be with her (I do agree that this is a really good point although the problem is that I don’t understand why he suddenly felt that way.) I think while it is not an ideal ending, it is a happy ending. At the least it is not a bad ending.

But I thought that it is such a bit pity that they dealt with his story in such a way as his story has so much potential. They could have explained what he did much more, as well as the exact relationship he had with the person that he is searching for. If it is Futaba. I don’t think he is wrong in giving up as it seemed that it was impossible for him to be with Futaba again, but they could have presented it so much better.

Conversation the PC has with Ichito in his own route

Ichito: “Your reflex is much better then what I thought. I actually attacked you with the thought of “it would not be bad if I do cut of your head today.”

(you fell in the river and he offers to help you up but you refuse)

PC: “What is it with you today? I thought you don’t start killing during day time.”

Ichito: “You are the only one who can make me remove this time limit.”

PC: “No way”

Ichito: “Don’t stare at me so. I am just really bored. Really bored.”

PC: “So you mean you want me to keep you company again?”

Ichito: “That is so, let us do something interesting”

PC: “I am going back”

Ichito: “You want to go back?”

PC: “It is not as if I can do something interesting”

Ichito: “do you prefer me saying that you are a useless woman?”

PC: “You really have a talent in making me angry”

Ichito: Don’t be mad, you look like a squirrel that way

PC: “Isn’t it cute to look like a squirrel?”

Ichito: “Since the moment I was born, I never once thought that a squirrel is cute”

PC: “I want to hit you”

Ichito: “Oh? If you do, I will hit you back”

PC: “Alright, put away your knife. Even though I can’t do anything amusing, I don’t mind just talking to you”

Ichito: Yes yes like this?

(Ichito will put away his katana. The CG changes)

PC: “Why me?”

Ichito: “Because it is amusing”

PC: “Wouldn’t that girl called Miku who is with you be more interesting?”

Ichito: “It is not fun to talk to a child. If I want to talk, then I should talk with the woman that I find interesting”

PC: “Isn’t she the type that you like?”

Ichito: “What type of person do you actually take me for?”

PC: “The type who like young girls?”

Ichito: “Alright, I’ve decided. Only you can make me remove the time limit on when I kill. Surely if I start doing a show of mutilating your body, the audience would be happy?”

PC: “I am joking, I am joking! Put away you knife. What type of relationship do you have? Brother and sister?”

Ichito: “My family would not be so noisy like that”

PC: “So you do have siblings?”

Ichito: “They have not been here in this world from very long ago. Miku is the girl that I found when I was on my way here”

PC: “I thought so”

(Ichito laughs and pull out his knife)

PC: “Nothing at all, please put away your knife. And? Where did you find her?”

Ichito: “Even though she was dying in the hospital, she had such strong strength. I thought she would be useful so I gave her a new body and took her here”

PC: “By new body, you mean her current body?”

Ichito: “The one who picked that body is Miku herself. Even though it really doesn’t suit her, she says she will not use any other body.”

PC: “What are you doing here?”

Ichito: Why do I have to tell you this? But since I am really bored now, I will tell you”

PC: “You really are pretty easy going, aren’t you? “

Ichito: “I just hate being bored. So, what were we saying? What I really want to do here? …I just want to get my family back.”

PC: “But…didn’t you say that your family is all dead?”

Ichito: “I didn’t say dead. The body is at least the way it was in this world”

PC: “Only the body?”

Ichito: “Yes, just an empty shell, so that is why I want it back”

PC: “From where?”

(Ichito points to underground)

PC: “Not above?”

Ichito: “Their spirit is not pure enough to reach heaven”

(she tells him the story of Orpheus)

Ichito: “So he failed? What is this, a warning?”

PC: “No. but I think that to return the dead to living is wrong”

Ichito: “You want me to stop this? You who have only seen me two or three times cannot stop what I have desired for two hundred years”

PC: “That is true, but I will stop you. Not with words, but with my power.”

Ichito: “Then why don’t you try? It is already night time. Do you want to start trying now?”

( You decide to meet at full moon and challenge one another)

Another route

Ichito: “So, this is the road to the underworld? It looks pretty normal. I thought it would be a much more scary place”

Aya: “why is it that you seek to open the way to the underworld?”

Ichito: “Why? For enjoyment”

Aya: “You are lying”

Ichito: “How cruel, saying that I am lying”

Aya: “Because you are not enjoying yourself at all”

Ichito: “What is it that you wish to say?”

Aya: “You can not forgive the one who abandoned you”

Ichito: “What are you saying?”

Aya: “You two were like one. But after you offended the gods, you lost your body, while the other lost their soul”

Ichito: “What do you want? To make me angry?”

Aya: “Foolish human, to desire eternity with your mortal body. You become the sprit that can never reincarnate, while the other receives the body that will never decay. The crime of eating the gods. You want to bring back your companion, right? Like a father going down to welcome the mother.”

Ichito: “so you do know all about me.”

(Ichito attacks Aya)

Aya: “Do you want to eat me now?”

Ichito: “Of course not, if I do I will definitely wreck my stomach. But we have talked enough- the way is open. you are no longer of use. Don’t worry, the master will soon go with you”

Aya: “Not only me…do you want to harm him as well?”

Ichito: “Isn’t it good for a couple to be together?”

Aya: “I will never forgive you- turn into a spirit that forever wanders around.”

Another route

Ichito: “Both the endless night and the darkness are deep.

There is nothing. There is nothing here

I knew this since the very beginning

It seems that I am the only one who is abandoned.

I want to deny that this is all useless

In the end, I am still being abandoned

You received a new life, while I am forced to accept such a body

So let me enjoy this

After all, I can only remain being like this for eternity!”

Miku’s past

Ichito: “Miku a girl who is really il, who felt she has been abnaonded as her parents can’t save her”

Her flashback

Miku: “Then why don’t everyone die?”

Ichito: “Yes, you are right”

Miku: “Who are you?”

Ichito: “Whoever you want. But do you really plan to just sit there and die?”

Miku: “It is because I can’t moves”

Ichito: “But since you have such a strong will, your spirit will not be able to depart even if your body die. If you want to continue living, then I can teach you”

Miku: “I want to continue. I don’t want to die.”

Ichito: “I understand, then do you want to help someone?”

(He kills her)

Before Ichito dies in Takatora’s route

Takatora: “Ichiito, what is it that you really want? What is it that you really seek that caused you to kill my brother and hurt all these people?”

Ichito: “All that I want is to see that one person…the one who abandoned me and disappeared. I just want to see them again.”

Takatora: “You will never be able to see them even if you live for hundreds of years and more. Someone who builds their happiness on other people’s sufferings will never get what they want”

Ichito: “That kind of thing…I realise that long ago.”

Ichito: (to PC) “Cleanse me with your powers”

Ichito: “What a cruel person…I thought that they were waiting for me, only to realise that they already reincarnated so eagerly. Long ago, I did something foolish…that is why I can not die normally. My companion and I challenged the gods. That is why we are cursed. I become the spirit that would not die, while they become a body that would never decay. Even though my body is gone, my spirit still hovers in the world. If I live in a corpse then it seems that I am alive again. In order to get a body that can help me to do what I want along with the knowledge that I want, I kept on changing the bodies that I use. I really am a hopeless fool. But I want to see my companion again, that is why I keep on doing this.”

Takatora: “You will cleanse him- so he will properly die. Otherwise he can find another corpse and live again.”

Ichito: “Wait for me, Futaba. I will definitely grasp you one day”

Hint system- one or two spoilers about bad endings.

A very interesting thing about the game is that you have a hint system and that is done by having the characters giving you hint. For example, one bad ending is you wondering around one night and get killed by Ichito (or he keep you as a human doll, which actually seems to be what happens in Edel Blume) After you see what happens, you get the hint system, which is Ichito telling you that since he often does wonder around at nights times, it is probably good if you stay away at nights time unless you are powerful enough to fight him.

Other character’s route

I must be honest, I remember more about the romance then the actual plot…

Yaegaki Chihaya: You find out that you guys were lovers in the past and you find out quite a significant proportion of what happened. But basically Saya in the past was very powerful while Chiyaya was Saku- the son of a demon. I can’t remember Saya’s name in the past so…but Saya’s father was attacking Saku’s people and his mother will follow the advice of Saya and loses her will and become a demon. Which is the final boss that the characters fight in many routes)

In this route you actually find out about Yasutsuna- which blew away all the theory I had about his involvement in Ichito’s route. But I think he was initially a sword so that was why he said that he doesn’t really have emotions at times, although he seems like a really nice guy and all that. But what happened is that he was the first Saya’s guard. Saya actually marries Saku but because he is a demon, he was killed by her father’s men, she then created a barrier or something like that and died. Yasutsuna actually looked after their children- Chihaya’s family.

Earlier on, Chigaya mentioned that he hasn’t been in the village this long since he initially lived outside and only returned when his father died, which involved him leaving school before he finished. In the end, he would actually enroll in PC’s school and live in the same place as the PC.

Iori Shuichirou: The PC was about five when she was adopted in the family and he has actually only been in the family for a short time too. He is actually illegitimate as his father’s main wife was not able to have any children, although she seems to be one of the saintly women who open her arm to both Saya and Shuichirou. But Shuichirou actually shows great potential as he was the only one in the family who was able to tame Koku.

His family actually wants Saya and Shuichirou to marry and he would be rather resentful at this as he feels that it is like him forcing himself onto Saya, in addition to there being an age gap.

Despite him being an adult he is actually very childish in many ways, as there are many things that he refuses to eat, and he is hopeless at cleaning. His room is a mess. In the end, Saya would go and live with him and the hint is that their family is very happy at this.

After you get someone’s ending you get a special scene where the character talks to the PC. His one is really cute. Saya has to tell her teacher what she plan to do after graduation by filling a form, and she is not fully sure what she should do. When Shuichirou returns and hears about this, he will take the form and write: ‘Bride’ on it.

Toshimitsu Takatora: He is the first character that I did because you have to do his route in order to do Ichito’s route. Takatora is actually chasing after Ichito- saying that the other stole from them. It turned out that Ichito actually killed Takatora’s brother and took the body, so the current body he is using is Takatora’s brother. Ichito himself is a spirit who cannot die so he often changes bodies.

When I first saw Takatora’s character I thought that he was going to be a very cold character but upon playing the game…I was wrong! This kid says the most outrageously stuff at times.

Takatora’s ending involves you killing Ichito (and I feel that unlike the other story the implication is that he truly dies since other routes implies that he probably can find another body and continue to live. That you just destroyed this body). You also probably find out the most about Ichito in Takatora’s route and I will say that what happen to Ichito in this route is so much better then his own route.

Takatora’s bad ending is that Ichito actually kills Takatora and will use Takatora’s body.

Giou: I don’t remember much about Giou’s route but what the main thing is that you have to find out his real identity and he is one of the ones with more then one bad endings. One of his bad endings is really interesting as he would end up using his power to make the PC forget about him. She would be living with Shuichirou but has no involvement with the whole business.

Shinonome Rin: You actually only get to play his route after you have done almost everyone else’s route. But basically he is actually a god, although he does not have any powers at all. One of the thing that I thought when I first heard him appear, calling the PC ‘Hime-san’ and acts as a bit of an idiot as well as flirting with her in a way that you naturally know is for fun, I thought that it was quite a pity that he was not voiced by Fish-san, as that seems a type of role that he would do (I meant this as a compliment)

But his route is actually really sad. He is actually immortal so there is a sense of him not being able to be really attached to anyone. The reason that Shuichirou is here is because Ichito actually stole the remains of this spirit Chikage (I think. I can’t remember). She was sort of an exorcist too and Rin had a rather strange relationship with her and she actually plays a really heavy part in his route. She tried to lead the monsters against the humans as she felt that the humans were being much too cruel to the monsters, but she was betrayed by her own people as her husband killed her. In addition, she is not fully dead as her spirit can be summoned.

He actually has two good endings- one is him about to go to the Iori family and tell them about his intention of being with Saya, while the other ending is actually a few years later, when he and Saya has married and has a daughter.

He is actually Aya’s brother, Aya is a goddess as well, but her role is to bring chaos onto the world. She can die but will be reborn and have to continue the same thing over and over again. Tayu found her and she thought that he wanted her powers of bringing chaos into the world, while he thought that this is what she wanted. In Rin’s route, Aya would die for real and most people agree that Rin’s daughter is actually Aya reincarnated but as a normal human girl (and the girl does look like Aya)

Yasutsuna: Technically, you don’t really have a route with him although you can get an ending with him. You get his ending by default if you didn’t get any one else’s route. But the barrier that protects the village is actually crumbling and you can strengthen it by dying as your blood is really special. You will decide to do this and Yasutsuna will go with you.

This bit is really freaky and I seriously advice people to not play this in the middle of the night, what I did, as I got quite a fright. But Saya will ask him what she has to do and he will tell her nothing. The next moment you hear the sound of a sword being pulled out the screen is splashed with blood. On top of that, you can see him opening his eyes. But he will die with her.

Saya then recall how he had been with her in the past.

Kagachi: He is actually a monster and he shows a strong dislike for humans. In his route, he will have flashbacks of his past- his whole village was destroyed even though they really just wanted to live in peace. The human village actually told his village that they wanted to live in peace together but once his people let down their guard, the human village slaughtered them. He would have died if he wasn’t saved by Tayu.

He really likes Tayu but dislike Aya, although this seems to be jealousy. There is a really nice scene when Aya brushes his hair for him and in his route, before Aya dies, he will thank her for having done that. But the PC will realise that she like him and he will decide to trust her.

One of the bad ending is Saya telling him that she will face everything with him and leave the others. Therefore, she wanted to get something from the house. However when they reached the house, Shuichirou will see them and he will attack Kagachi. Kagachi will think that Saya betrayed him but he will choose to accept this. However, Saya will shelter his body with hers so Shuichirou ended up killing her instead. This ending is really sad because Kagachi will then turn to Shuichioru and ask the other to kill him

His good ending involves him convincing Tayu and Aya to give up what they are doing and when the PC returns to go to school, he will stay in the village and watch over the place where Tayu and Aya died. The implication is that the PC will come and live in the village once she finished school.

Asaki is an otome game and you play as Iori Saya (an exorcist) who accepted this job at being in this village where monsters and humans live together. Her family is rather special as their bloods are very powerful. It can either save or kill people. In accepting this job you would go to the village and end up meeting a variety of people as well as being united with old friends. The good thing is that I get to play a Chinese version (but this was sometime ago so…).

Characters- your allies (In no particular order)

Yaegaki Chihaya (18): He is the leader of the village that hired Saya.

Giou (-): He is actually a good demon and I guess the best way is to think of him as Saya’s familiar. Saya is an orphan and she lives by herself along with Giou.

Iori Shuichirou (29): He is Saya’s cousin but she seems to be adopted in the family. I recall that they are not actually related. He is an exorcist like Saya, but while Saya fight with spells, he fight with a katana and he have ability of using fires. He also has a familiar (I know that it is not the exact thing but that is the best way I can describe it) Koku- who is actually Giou’s teacher.

Toshimitsu Takatora (15): He is a student in Saya’s school and his families are also exorcists. He is at the village due to reasons of his own.

Shinonome Rin: He is the one who introduced Saya to the job and he would come to the village by saying that he has to tidy up a late friend’s shop there.

Yasutsuna: He is a servant in Chihaya’s house and he has actually served Chihaya’s father before Chiyaya. The seiyuu is the same guy who voiced Shirogane and Ribu from Haruka so I ended up seeing Yasutsuna as a mixture of these two characters, especially when his character has his eyes drawn like that- close eye mod. And in addition, the seiyuu used his Shirogane/Ribu voice. So whenever he mentions tea I feel like cracking up.

Officially, the above are your ‘allies’, people who are on your side.

Characters- your enemies (In no particular order)

Tayu: Tayu is the man behind many of this along with Aya. Unlike the others, he is actually a human. You know that they are clearly doing something that would disrupt the peace.

Aya: She accompanies Tayu and she seems to be a demon.

Fuki/Suiki/Kinki: They are three demons who work under Tayu and the others. They are three siblings and even though they are on opposing sides, they do not really seem to want to fight if they could.

Kagachi: He is a demon who clearly respects (even worships) Tayu very much.

Miku: She is a demon who works for Ichito, and she clearly worships him.

Ichito: A demon who works under Tayu but you can see that he has other motives. (I must admit that he was my main motivation in the game although I did play everyone else’ route. The reason is because he was voiced by Hosoya Yoshimasa. Although this adds another crazy character in an otome game onto his CV).

But the official site is really worth a visit, and their wall paper section is really awesome. http://www.mi-o.jp/product/asaki/dl/asaki_dl01.htm. The official site really is cool. In addition to the wall paper, there are a lot of cool stuff, you can actually hear sound clips of the characters and you can even download a short version of the opening song. (I quite want the wall paper of Ichito and Miku although it is not released yet).

The game is a conversation based game so you actually don’t have to do any fighting. However, it is probably a good idea to look at cheat guides in order to make sure that you get the right ending- as there are good and bad endings. Although some bad endings are really worth seeing.

In general I like the game and the CGs are very beautiful (I love Ichito’s first appearance- this CG (which I screen cap from my own computer) and as I said, I like kimono styled otome game. The story is actually quite good although the thing that annoyed me the most is that Ichito’s route and story was not done very well.

Episode 47

*        Yoshitsune and the others (disguised as monks) would meet a woodcutter and the woodcutter’s wife is actually Tomoe, and she actually has a child. She tells him that she is called Moe now. She met her husband- the woodcutter- as he saved her. She say that he was the one who was responsible for her not giving up and continues to live, so she tells him to not give up.

*        Due to having fast forward the last episodes too much this episode seems too long.

*        You have a really sad scene when they dream of the future when they have a new kingdom (although you know that it would never come to be). Some say that they would bring them brother and sister, while Benkei says that he would bring Chidori and her father. One of his men actually says that he will bring Utsubo as he wants to marry her. I was really touched at this scene.

*        Benkei and the others would be held up at this place and they were just about to leave when the official official came. This is the famous scene when Benkei have to get them away.

*        The official official is actually pretty sharp despite his first appearance as he would say that it is rather unusual to travel now, and Benkei would say that the time does not matter, it is simply because they have the desire to go to that place as it is holy and they are also trying to raise fund. But the official will then ask to see the records, which benkei say it is not something any man can see. The official then make Benkei read it. Benkei will take out a scroll- which contains a drawing of one of the gods he did himself- so he basically make up the rest.

*        However, just when they were about to leave, he would notice that Yoshitsune has a flute. Benkei would then hit Yoshitsune with his staff and Yoshitsune would say that he stole the recorder. He will hit Yoshitsune so many times that the official would stop him and even give him some wine in sympathy. However, it seems that he actually ended up knowing their real identity.

*        Afterward, Benkei would be really upset.

Episode 48

*        Yoshitsune finally arrives in Hiraimizu. Yoshitsune’s two retainers from Hiraimizu actually both died but their father would tell Yoshitusne that this is not Yoshitsune’s fault at all and he is happy that his sons has been of use.

*        Yoshitsune will say that he cannot do what he wish with his brother as his brother is bound by the idea of rules and reason too much, which is why he is killing their relatives. Hidehira will then suggest that Yoshitsune make Hiraimizu into the country of his dreams.

*        Yoritomo will demand the last-emperor to make Hidehira hand Yoshistune over. In the end, messengers would be sent from the last emperor to Hiraimizu but I think the message is different. Yoritomo will make one of his men accompany him.

*        Yoshitsune will learn about what happened to Shizuka and even though the other said that the child is a girl, Yoshitsune guessed the truth.

*        Yoritomo then say that they will test Hidehira by first giving him some unreasonable demand. He want what is given to the last-emperor be first given to Kamakura- which meant that that they would be regarded as Yoritomo’s servant. Kunihira will say that they should refuse and fight if the other come, but Yasuhria say that is too dangerous. However, Hidehira say that Yoritomo is not a fool so he would probably not attack, as this is merely Yoritomo wanting to see what he would do. Hidehira will say that they will do this, but also tell Yasuhira to send some additional gift from their land.

*        However, Hidehira will say that this is not just due to Yoshitsune and that what matters it what one feel, not how much they are seen by other. In addition, there is a rivalry between the Genji and the Fujiwara and now that the Heike are gone, the Fujiwara family would be next anyway, if not due to Yoshitsune, then due to something else. Hidehira will say that he would not attack, but if any dare to enter his territory, then he will show no mercy.

*        However, Yoritomo (when receiving the gift) will say that the extra gift from Hidehira is a bit of an ‘up yours’. The gifts are actually showing off the wealth of his land. As HIdehira said, Yoritomo’s desire of wanting to attack Hiraimizu is not just due to Yoshitsune.

*        Hidehira dies and it is really sad because on that very night where he become sick he say that he had a dream of Hiraimizu a century later and it is still very well. It is really sad as Yasuhira will be the last ruler and he wants them to listen to Yoshitsune.

*        When alone with his brothers, Yasuhira will reveal his insecurities at being the next leader.

*        When Hiehira died Yoritomo actaully says that this is good news for Kamakura (even though ii is true it still seem a bit harsh) and then send a message to the last-emperor, wanting them to hand Yoshitsune over.

*        Yasuhira’s reply would be that they don’t have Yoshitsune and Yoritomo will say this mean Yasuhira is not as good as a leader as his father and you can tell that he is really nervous. His brother Kunihara is actually completely different- very calm. But then one can argue that it is different as the whole responsibility won’t fall on Kunihira. I can’t help but to think: if this was Haruka 3’s Yasuhira…

Episode 49 (final)

*        The army from Kamakura actually got past the boundary and is camping in the Fujiwara’s land. However, Yoritomo order them to stay put- they would not make the first move. Yoritomo will order one of his officials to continue writing letters to Yasuhira, threatening them. Once again, I can’t help but to think of Haruka 3’s Yasuhira. Both Yasuhira’s two brothers and Yoshitsune will tell him to attack and Yoshitsune then plan to attack Kamakura. I do wonder what would happen if Yasuhira went along, but I don’t think Yoshitsune could have taken Kamakura.

*        Utsubo comes and the guy who likes her will ask her to always remain with them. Later on she will tell him that she will wait for him in the capital. When he died as Benkei will tell him that Utsubo is waiting for him.

*        Masako and Tokimasa will tell Yoritomo that Yoritomo is being too emotional. Masako will then say that the reason he make the army stay put is not because he is afraid of Yoshitsune, but want Yoshitsune to do something himself as he does not want to fight Yoshitsune, and she will say that Yoritomo is a man with emotions after all. Yoritomo will say: “As to be expected of Masako” At this point one just feels that these two really suit each other.

*        The final letter Yoritomo give says that they would attack even if they don’t have the order of the last-emperor, Yasuhira would say that this show how fearless Yoritomo is and his duty as the leader of the Fujiwara family is to protect their lands. Yasuhira will decide to kill Yoshitsune in order to show his loyalty to Yoritomo. Yasuhira’s younger brother will storm off directly while Kunihira will decide to leave Hiraimizu and invite Yoshitsune to go with him. He is going to where his mother is (He is not the son of the main wife). Before he leaves, he will tell Yoshitsune that his enemy is not just limited to Kamakura.

*        Yasuhira will actually have his younger brother killed on the night he decide to attack Yoshitsiune.

*        Utsubo will tell them to escape but they will refuse. Yoshitsune will ask Utsubo to leave but his excuse: “so someone can speak to Shizuka” I can’t help but to roll my eyes. Couldn’t he say something nice? Idiot.

*        Its quite sad seeing them saying that they would manage and that they have been happy with the way they lived.

*        The final battle is Yoshitsune and his six men against Yasuhira’s army.

*        When only Yoshitsune and Benkei are left, Benkei will hide Yoshitsune in a little hut and stand guard outside. Yoshitsune will decide to commit ritual suicide while Benkei hold the attackers back. Before he kills himself Yoshitsune will think about this dream of having a new country once more.

*        The whole mood would have been touching if we didn’t have the weird special affect after Yoshitsune stabbed himself- it as if a volcano erupted. A bunch of light shot from the hut. That seriously…ruined the mood

*        Then there is the standing death of Benkei- which is really sad.

*        Yoritomo will suddenly wake up at the moment when Masako comes in with the news of Yoshitsune’s death. Yortimo seem to press in Hiraimizu and Yasuhira will escape after he set the place in fire. They will mention his death although they did not explain.

*        The last emperor and Tango will comment on the bad weather being a reflection of what would now happen due to Yrotimo’s powers but one feel that they would be able to manage.

*        Yoritomo will be haunted by what happened and I seriously recommend this drama for people to watch if only to change their opinion about Yoritomo. It is true that he can be very cruel and ruthless, but he is not just an evil bastard full stop, which is what I felt Haruka 3 made him to be. He is human to he is a very complex character.

Episode 45

*        Shizuka will get captured and Tokimasa will question her.

*        Meanwhile, Yoritomo will start to gain great dominance over the last-emperor. In response, the last emperor would tell the temples to help Yoshitsune (the advice of Tango) And as the last emperor and Tango said, this then make Yoshitsune feel that the last emperor is on his side and plan to go back to the capital. I mean, they are on his side but Yoshitsune does not understand that he is just being used.

*        Meanwhile, Utsubo comes and so does two of Yoshitsune’s men.

*        However, the last emperor will decide to not do anything openly as they feel it is better for them to observe as Yoritomo might do something if they are too rash.

*        Yukiie would be captured and when Tokimasa talks to him he would place the blame on Yoshitsune in the hope of joining Yoritomo. However, Tokimasa will say that Yoritomo’s only words to him are: “If you are a warrior of the Genji then you should accept death honourablly.” To be honest I am really surprised that Yukiie lasted this long.

*        Yoritomo will actually show some pity at what happen to Yukiie but Masako will say that he deserves it, this is merely the consequences of his own actions.

*        Yoshitsune will actually see that screen again and it is quite sad. He will say that just like Kiyomori’s dream of a new country. His dreams of a new country would probably not come true as well. They will then decide to go to Hiraimizu.

Episode 46

*        I fast forward most of this episode because it is mainly about Shizuka so…I think I got the 40 minute episode watched in 15 minutes.

*        One of Yoshitsune’s men who escorted Shizuka will be killed due to trying to save her. Shizuka’s mother would go and tell Yoshitsune and the rest to not save her as that would not be Shizuka’s wish.

*        Shizuka is pregnant and Yoritomo tells Masako that if it is a girl then the child can live, but not if the child is a boy. I was actually really surprised that Yoritomo will allow a girl to live.

Episode 43

*        Yoritomo actually sent some men to interfere in Iyo- the province that the last emperor gave Yoshitsune. Preventing Yoshitsune from having control.

*        Meanwhile, some men are spying on Yoshitsune and Benkei actually knows one of them.

*        Benkei and Yoshitsune’s retainers are trying to work out whether they are being spied upon and they actually suspect Moe (since she did talk to Kagetoki when he visited). Moe will tell Yoshitsune that if they suspect her, they should just ask her about it.

*        The others will attack Yoshitsune that night and Shizuka actually comes out during the fight and say she can fight too. But she really just ends up being in the way as Yoshitsune has to make one of his retainers protect her. She seems like a lot of the typical shojo characters- saying that she will not be in the way and she knows what she is doing, even though she knows nothing at all and would only get in the way. Moe would come but she is actually much more useful then Shizuka. But unlike Shizuka, she doesn’t have any dramatic declaration that only emphasise her uselessness even more.

*        Yukiie will come and help them.

*        Even though the monk that is here to assassinate Yoshitsune does not tell them who ordered him, he says this is purely mercenary. He will get lands if he takes this mission. However, the reason he wants the lands is because it will be given to his mother regardless of whether he fails or succeeds, so his mother could be well look after.

*        At one point Yoshitsune actually addresses Yoritomo without any honourifix and I got quite a shock. It is just like in Shirogane’s route, when he suddenly just said: “Yasuhira”

*        Yoshitsune will ask the ex-emperor to give an order to attack Yoritomo along with Yukiie. Yoritomo will say they can only attack back and he will actually lead the army himself. The army from Kamakura is much more then Yoshitsune’s resources but he will refuse to ask Hidehira for help as he say this is a personal battle between he and Yoritomo. It is quite honourable, but that attitude is not going to help when he is heavily outnumbered.

*        However, Yoshitsune say that Kyoto is a place that is hard to attack but easy to defend. If they have a good strategy then being outnumbered won’t be that problematic. However, he is reluctant at fighting as it will cause great harm to the city.

*        They are actually in difficulty of recruiting as many are afraid of Yoritomo and Yukiie only has less then three hundred men while Yoritomo have a hundred thousand. Tanzo will refuse by saying Kumano’s army are navies, so they can’t fight on land.

*        In the end, Yoshitsune will decide to leave the capital as he does not wish the people go get hurt. Once more, I think this is an example of him being too sentimental.

Episode 44

*        The place where Yoritomo camps in is actually the place where he and Yoshitsune met, which took place five years ago.

*        Yoshitsune will send Moe away, telling her to go back to Kamakura (although I remember the tale of Yoshitsune said that his wife actually died with him in Hiraimizu). Moe admit that her father did tell her to report any news to him, but she say that she came here as a woman to be his wife, not as a spy. She will decide to go back. However, Shizuka will accompany Yoshitsune.

*        When they sail, they will meet the ghost of Tomomori and I am a bit surprised, because I feel that he admitted his defeat quite graciously.

*        Upon hearing about where Yoshitsune is going, Yoritomo will actually head back to Kamakura.

*        Meanwhile, Yoshitsune’s ship actually overturns and he has been separated with some of his companions.

*        The last emperor will send his official to talk to Yoritomo and the official would say that the reason the order was issued was because Yoshitsune forced them (basically, the ex-emperor stabbed Yoshitsune in the back). Yoritomo will then say if that is the case then he ‘wish’ to be allowed to have an order to hunt down Yoshitsune and Yukiie.

*        When Yoshitsune hears the news, he would be upset. His reaction is actually: “surely there is a mistake” instead of “I have been stabbed in the back.” Once more, he has this naivety that would just not allow him to survive in such a time.

*        They meet some bandits and one of the bandits would threaten him with Shizuka (Who is completely useless). However, they did get united with some of his other men. Later on, when the monks attacked, they had to first make sure she is safe. I mean, it is not her fault that she is useless but what annoy me about her is that she does not seem to realise she is useless until much later (like the time when she come out in the attack). That is why I really like Mariko in the Genbu Kaiden game, even though she is not of much use, most of the time she is aware of this so she tend to stay away during battles.

*        But Shizuka will leave the company and once again, we have the ‘treat this recorder as me’ thing. But even though she leaves, she still has two of Yoshitsune’s men with her, which probably make things worse for Yoshitsune.

Episode 40

*        The letter is first addressed to one of Yoritomo’s official as you can’t just directly write to Yoritomo, and the official will talk to Masako first. Masako will say Yoritomo should not see it. The next day Masako will suggest Yoritomo seeing Yoshitsune since they are brothers and Yoritomo will tell her to not mention this again. She then mention about the letter and Yoritomo will say there is no need to see it. However, when alone with her father Masako will reveal that she did this to make sure that Yoritomo would not see Yoshitsune because Yoritomo actually would be affected if he does see Yoshitsune as he is actually like Yoshitsune by being emotional, just that he manages to control and even suppress his emotion.

*        Tokimasa will say it is dangerous if Yoshitsune come to Kamakura as the land might split, but Masako will say even worse is if they join force as they might be able to make the Genji too powerful. I feel that by refusing Masako’s suggestion of seeing Ohime, Yoshitsune actually lost Masako as a possible ally. While she would not suddenly be on his side, I think she would not have been against him that much.

*        Munemori and his son are still in Kamakura and when Munemori heard about what Yoritomo intends, he say that Yoritomo will be consumed by that dream, just like Kiyomori.

*        Yoshitsune actually realise that it is possible that his brother received the letter and not replying is an answer. However, he says that they can’t go back to Hiraimizu because this might cause further misunderstanding.

*        Yoritomo will end up reading the letter after all and he would be upset upon reading the letter, even crying. Saying that he should not have read it.

*        However, Yoritomo will still decide that Yoshitsune must be punished, which means that he will not be allowed to go in Kamakura. Tokimasa will come to tell Yoshitsune that he wants him to take Munemori and his son back, and would not see him.

*        Benkei will say goodbye to Chidori and initially he want her to move on and even marry someone else but she tells him that she will always be his wife.

*        Unknown to them, Yoritomo will see Yoshitsune leaving.

Episode 41

*        Munemori asks Yoshitsune about what would happen to them but he will then comment that Yoshitsune seem to be bearing some sort of burden.

*        Masako will point out that Yoritomo should not feel bad about what he does to yoshitsune as this is the right thing because Yoshitsune’ actions of accepting the position and not refusing is actually very severe.

*        Yoritomo and his advisors will decide to take Yoshitsune’s lands away as Yoshitsune might become dangerous.

*        When Yoshitsune mention about the relationship of the Heike, Munemori will say that this is part of their downfall. Since Shigemori has always been doing so well he had been jealous and therefore was so strict on Koremori. In addition, he had also been jealous of both Tomomori and Shigehira.

*        Shigehira arrives in Nara and his wife is actually looking for him. The fact that she arrived here is quite amazing. The monks seem really scary because it almost seemed that they were all going to crowd around him and beat him to death when they saw him.

*        Shigehira will be allowed to meet with his wife (they had been parted since the battle of Ichi no tame). She will ask him whether there is some memorial he can give her and it is really sad, as he will say the only thing would be his body. He will then give him a strand of his hair, which he bit off himself. He will then tell her that she must live and not kill herself, and they will meet again in another life. Shigehira was only twenty nine when he died.

*        Munemori says that he would be a monk if the last emperor would forgive him. However, Yoshitsune then received the order of killing Munemori and his son

*        Munemori will talk to Yoshitsune about the past and admit the jealousy he felt due to Kiyomori caring about Yoshitsune so much. Munemori then say that he knows he and his son would die here. However, Munemori will beg him to spare his son’s life. However, his son would point out that Yoritomo would never let him live and it is Kiyomori’s mercy that allowed all this.

*        Munemori’s death is actually really dignified and I think Kagetoki’s son was fully right in what he said.

*        Yoshitsune will say that this is actually Yoritomo seeing whether he is capable of killing Munemori, which is an indication of distrust. In addition, he will say that his dream of a new country is very different from Yoritomo’s vision.

Episode 42

*        Yoritomo confiscating his lands is actually really significant because the main bond Yoritomo and his men have is him giving them reward while he serve them. The fact that he took away Yoshitsune’s land means that Yoshitsune is no longer one of Yoritomo’s men. In addition, this means Yoshitsune have no income at all.

*        Tango actually talks normally at one stage and I got quite a shock when I heard her, as she sounded really different. Normally, she drags out each word.

*        Yoritomo will say that Yoshitsune’s weakness is being too emotional- rely on emotion and bonds too much, and he hope that Yoshitsune will realise that. I feel that despite everything, he clearly still cares for Yoshitsune.

*        Meanwhile, Yoshitsune is getting more popular in the capital due to what he is doing to help the plague and earthquake. This will also cause the last emperor to reward him with land of his own- Iyo.

*        Utsubo’s husband died due to the plague and her life just seems really unfair, because it seems that when something finally gone right for her it goes wrong. She will decide to do some sort of business and survive on her own- unlike Shizuka.

*        Yoritomo will send one of his men (I think it is Kagetoki) to see what is happening in the capital but he will say that the reason is because the other is picking wares for a temple that he plan to build to honour his father. Therefore, he wants the best so Kagetoki should take his time and only go back when he find out the best.

*        Kagetoki will go and talk to Moe and say that her father would like her to go back if anything happens, but she refuses.

*        Yukiie will come and see Yoshitsune again, once more, suggesting that Yoshitsune shall rebel against Yoritomo. Yukiie actually work out that not only is Kagetoki here to supervise Yoshitsune, it is also to see what the last emperor is up to. In addition, he point out that although Yoshitsune does not think that he is acting against Yoritomo, Yoritomo would definitely see it that way.

*        Yukiie visiting Yoshitsune is known and Masako will say that they must kill Yoshitsune now as he would definitely be dangerous and she tells him that she would act for him.