-- And the sickle was swung at 10:46 p.m.(Friday, March 29, 2002)

Happy birthday, Kim!

-- And the sickle was swung at 09:29 p.m.(Thursday, March 28, 2002)

What the...?

So Nataku's only purpose in the story is to be the magic ingredient in instant reconstructive surgery. And what kind of half-baked ending is that? The death of a certain character is not the issue. The issue is how does it tie in with Fuuma's psychosis and subsequent return to apparent sanity? The anime has plotholes so large that a 747 can negotiate a u-turn in them. That's it! I'm sticking to my manga.

-- And the sickle was swung at 12:29 a.m.(Thursday, March 28, 2002)

Kim, sorry to hear about Angela. I hope she was dreaming of the happy hunting ground when she left.

Maria, do take care. The cut sounds nasty.

Sat-chan, I'm glad you're back. But I'll be even happier if I get to see that DJ you promised.

To those who liked Yakusoku, thanks for your feedback. I'm quite surprised with myself to know that I can write the Kamui parts without squirming...too much. To those who don't like the fic, I haven't heard from you yet, thankfully.

Anyway, this evening will be the final episode of the X TV series. Any thoughts? Who will survive, if any? My vote goes to...Not-Nokoru. *ducks* Seriously, if I even get a little bit of S/K handholding, I'll be very content...at least until the next Asuka.

-- And the sickle was swung at 01:35 a.m.(Wednesday, March 27, 2002)

Just sat through 6 episodes of the Onmyouji TV series starring SMAP's Inagaki Goro as Abeno Seimei, the legendary onmyouji (yes, he's more famous than Subaru and Seishirou combined). Goro makes a good angsty pretty boy, though I wonder if the real Seimei was anything as angsty. I'm slightly disappointed with the guy playing Seimei's best friend, Minamoto Hiromasa, though. He's clueless enough to be the comic relief, but I was expecting someone a little younger and definitely with a more refined bearing and voice. After all, Hiromasa is a respected court musician. I mean, the movie version had Ito Hideaki playing this guy. There are few droolworthier Japanese actors than Ito. I suppose the TV producers didn't want too much slash potential in this show.

The episodic stories are slow but insightful. The supernatural is kept to a minimum as the focus is actually on the evil that resides in the human heart rather than any physical demons. In the end, Seimei's task isn't to exorcise the demons, but to help the people seek redemption. Sort of like an olden day Tokyo Babylon, but without an evil onmyouji (at least none has appeared so far). Interesting.

-- And the sickle was swung at 01:09 a.m.(Wednesday, March 27, 2002)

Part 2 of Yakusoku has been posted. Rated [NC-17] for some yaoi content.

While going through some blogs, something occurred to me about this musical chair game going around between the DOH and DOE. If Kamui is the only person who can choose to be either a DOH or a DOE, why is it fashionable for everyone else to switch sides all of a sudden? I can understand dropping out of the equation totally, as in not-DOH-not-DOE, but moving from one side to the other? Or does the rules stipulate that Kamui is the only one who can choose but cannot switch, whereas everyone else who was issued a loyalty card at birth can swap it later if someone else on the other side is game for a change (or there's an empty slot)? Confused yet? So am I.

-- And the sickle was swung at 11:13 p.m.(Sunday, March 24, 2002)

Calm down, Murasaki. ^_^ The TV anime (which will soon join the ranks of the unmentionable movie at the rate it is going) has so many plotholes that they are exceeded only by the feathers that flit across the screen. With Fuuma's ability to predict when the next Seal is going to sneeze, I find it totally implausible that a fastidious guy like him failed to foresee that he'd be disfigured by Sorata. I thought that the only person who could change destiny was Kamui?! And what's this about Subaru falling into that semi-comatose state when he had seemed perfectly fine talking to Kamui after Rainbow Bridge? Plus who's been feeding him? Makes no sense whatsoever. At least it's a good sign that the manga isn't going to be anywhere like the anime.

What irks me most about the anime though, is the early demise of Hinoto. Sure, I hate her and wish that she'd croak in the manga. But she's critical to the story, being the orchestrator of the entire plot. It is Hinoto, and not Fuuma, who's the uber-villain of the story. Fuuma, like all the other Dragons, are mere pawns in her machinations to prevent herself from being killed by Kamui. I don't like Fuuma, especially when he tries to be mean to the Seals. But I appreciate that he has an unexpectedly gentle side that has been completely erased from the anime. All just to make him the generic monster-villain. They might as well have him transform into an "enormous red dragon with seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns" (Revelation 12:3) during the Final Battle. On the other hand, he just might.

-- And the sickle was swung at 10:18 p.m.(Saturday, March 23, 2002)

The updates for Asuka May is here. 14 pages. Still on Karen and Nataku, and stopped at another unfinished sentence.

-- And the sickle was swung at 09:51 p.m.(Saturday, March 23, 2002)

The Saiyuki chick with the see-through shirt is a hermaphrodite, hence applying the pronoun "she" would be discriminatory towards the male half. Though I doubt "it" would be any better. Help please?

-- And the sickle was swung at 09:29 p.m.(Friday, March 22, 2002)

Thankfully, this girl wasn't unreasonable and she has finally removed the direct linkage to the scans on my site. I don't want to be mean, but if you wish to use the pics I've scanned, it'd be nice to let me know so that I can appreciate that they're being used for nice skins and wallpapers etc. But whatever it is, please don't hot-link the image from my site. I haven't received any complaints from my domain host about my bandwidth yet, and I hope never to have to. Thanks.

-- And the sickle was swung at 09:10 p.m.(Friday, March 22, 2002)

Congratulations on becoming an aunt, Ammie! Getting any octopi gifts for little Quinn?

My throat doesn't seem to get any better. How long is the pain supposed to last anyway?

-- And the sickle was swung at 06:07 a.m.(Friday, March 22, 2002)

I've done a new Tokyo Babylon fanfic, Camellias and Stars.

-- And the sickle was swung at 12:29 p.m.(Thursday, March 21, 2002)

Congrats, Kerianne. See, things aren't always as bad as one thinks. You did make the trip. The future is not foreordained. *gets smacked*

Despite being a worshipper of the Posterboys of Angst, I, too, have to come out in defence of Kusanagi. His character is not a waste of a DOE slot. He is the human face in that lot of mostly unhuman personalities, and thus make the reader feel that the DOE aren't necessarily all evil. Sure, we could have another pretty psycho in cool suits, but the legitimate message of the DOE would have gotten lost in that chorus of patented evil chuckles. This isn't an american comic where all the good guys are honourable bravehearts, and all the bad guys are backstabbing slimebags.

-- And the sickle was swung at 01:24 p.m.(Wednesday, March 20, 2002)

I currently feel like Kamui with Fuuma's fingers pressed around his neck. No, not aroused, you hentais. What I had thought was a simple sore throat over the weekend turned out to be tonsilitis, and now I can barely swallow my own saliva without feeling my throat recoiling in pain. This is weird. I've never had tonsilitis before, so why is it cropping up so late in my adulthood?

-- And the sickle was swung at 01:03 p.m.(Wednesday, March 20, 2002)

Bandwidth thief! I never keep copies of my old scans because of people like you.

-- And the sickle was swung at 01:19 p.m.(Tuesday, March 19, 2002)

Added Kurot to my blog links.

Murasaki, I've always felt that Fuuma wasn't interested in the girls in school because he was crazy about his sister. In any case, I'm sure there's plenty of room in Yuuto's bed for one more person. He's not the kind of guy to say no to a woman, especially one as pretty as Arashi.

-- And the sickle was swung at 11:21 a.m.(Tuesday, March 19, 2002)

Made some changes to the links.

Bye, Suze! You'll be sorely missed, even if I don't always agree with your opinions.

Hello, Ko! Your little gift for Catharsis of Fate was really cute. Thanks again.

Honestly, I don't think I can take it if they lift up Hinoto's enormous skirt to reveal tentacles beneath. Yucks! On the other hand, it would explain the Wind Clan's obsession with octopi (refer to Aoki's tie in Xtv1).

Anyway, for the benefit of those who do not visit my Sakura Board, I think Arashi is planning to pull a Kendappa-ou (of RG Veda notoriety) here. Of course, I could be wrong, and it just happens that Sorata was a lousy lover who finished before she was done. Frustration has been known to drive some women to do radical things. Furthermore, the two presumably most virile guys in X, namely Yuuto and Fuuma, are with the Dragons of Earth.

-- And the sickle was swung at 09:26 p.m.(Monday, March 18, 2002)

Taryn, having just pulled myself out from a similar tragedy, I feel your pain. I hope that you have backups. On the other hand, it might miraculously not be as bad as it seems. This article on surviving a disk crash might be of some help.

Isa, I love your analysis of the Subaru/Kamui relationship. It's very Japanese, that state of being there almost. I've read several articles on the Japanese mindset whereby, in any endeavour, it's the process, not the outcome, that matters. For once the outcome has been achieved, the beauty of the endeavour is lost. Which means, that Clamp is probably going to leave their relationship hanging in mid-air.

Incidentally, such a mindset would explain why the country's economy is still in a slump after one whole decade of promised, but never delivered, reforms.

-- And the sickle was swung at 11:28 p.m.(Saturday, March 16, 2002)

My right shoulder is hurting like hell since yesterday. I suspect repetitive strain injury from using the mouse for long hours at an inappropriate position. And I was wondering why my relatively empty bag felt like a sack of stones while out shopping yesterday. I was sure in a foul mood for the entire afternoon, that is, until I spotted an eye-candy at Takashimaya's MacDonald's. I think he's Japanese, and he had those light-brown, wind-swept manga-like hairstyle. Quite a few people were staring at him too. Quite a few of them were guys. I think the guys were jealous. If he'd smile a little, I think he could qualify to be Yuuto. Why is my best pal with the digital camera not around when I need her?

-- And the sickle was swung at 07:01 a.m.(Saturday, March 16, 2002)

Here's my take on the scene from X1:

In the earlier volumes of X, the two Kamuis are always represented by Kamui's face, with only the subtle difference in expression and the wings to tell them apart. In that case, the Kamui we see here is really the Dark Kamui aka Fuuma, and the person he intends to kill is, therefore, Shirou Kamui.

But the Eyeball is so fun. *pouts*

Oh year, some screenshots of the X Playstation Game. Subaru and Seishirou seem like a pair of Dervishes twirling their skirts in a dance. Sorata and Kusanagi look okay though.

-- And the sickle was swung at 09:23 p.m.(Thursday, March 14, 2002)

Got my Asuka X:04 today. Here's a cover pic of Kamui in tears. The blue beads in his hand was worn by Kotori on the cover of Asuka X:03. I suppose it means he's mourning for her loss.

There's also an ad for the matching pair of phonecards commemorating 10 years of X in Asuka, featuring Subaru and Kamui. I've created a composite of the phonecards so that you can see the entire effect. Unfortunately, as Subaru's card was printed in a much smaller size, the quality of the scan was seriously affected. Red cords and a long sash twirling around their bodies, and it seems like Subaru is admiring Kamui's pretty ass. *nosebleeds*

-- And the sickle was swung at 09:08 p.m.(Thursday, March 14, 2002)

Kerianne, I still feel that I have trouble with straight couples. Probably due to the fact that I read too many yaoi manga. Anyway, Aoki's wife looks manly because she wasn't designed by CLAMP. If CLAMP was involved, Shimako and Yuka would very likely have looked like Nadeshiko and Sakura from Card Captor Sakura, and you wouldn't want that, would you? *sugar overdose*

The major problem with an Anti-Clique Clique is that there aren't supposed to be members.

Maria! Welcome back!! *glomps* I have two versions of the talking Pikachu toy sitting on my desk. "Pika! Pika!"

Yeah, Ammie, wouldn't it be neat if Dark Hinoto was fooling around with her sister's lovers by disguising herself as Beast's consciousness? It actually makes scary sense.

If I join the X IF, can I be the Eyeball? *bobs aimlessly inside a jar* Just kidding.

In other news, I passed my JLPT4 exams. Not surprising except for the section on Listening Comprehension. Either my ears didn't fail me this time, or I made lucky guesses. More likely the latter.

-- And the sickle was swung at 11:57 p.m.(Wednesday, March 13, 2002)

Polling booths for the CFA Readers' Choice Award -- Modern World Series are now open. Please be a good Clamp Fanfic Citizen and vote.

-- And the sickle was swung at 11:48 a.m.(Wednesday, March 13, 2002)

*scanning through YahooGroups* It been eating my mails! Yeah, tons of messages have not been propagated to my mailbox. No wonder it's been so quiet lately.

-- And the sickle was swung at 12:46 a.m.(Wednesday, March 13, 2002)

I've finished the Aoki/Karen fic promised to Lika darling. It's called The Torch. Don't hesitate to tell me if it stinks.

Taryn, I'm insulted. Saiga-san *drools* is nothing like that clueless lump of clay called Leon. Saiga is cool and sexy, and he can come sleep over in my bed every night if he wants to. Though that means I'd have to clear some space. *tries to squeeze Subaru and Kamui to one side* Oh, do take care of your health.

Isa, the end of violence does not equate to the end of angst, pain, depression and despair. On a random note, I once had half a mind to start a clique called "No More Cliques" in response to the then NSK vs. EOV "war".

I have a pink room too. I suppose I should put up my stack of Card Captor Sakura posters on the wall. Instead, I have Kamui, Subaru, Seishirou, Fuuma and the cast of E'S staring down at me.

-- And the sickle was swung at 12:01 a.m.(Wednesday, March 13, 2002)

Kouri, I'm confused here. But Mr Genki's name is spelled Keiichi, not Keichii. I hope that's what you meant.

In other news, Asuka X:04 will be released on Wednesday, March 13. I can't wait to see the design of the Subaru phonecard. But I doubt there's going to be a colour pic printed in there.

-- And the sickle was swung at 09:54 p.m.(Monday, March 11, 2002)

Picked up the first three volumes of Yorozuya Tokaido Honpo by Saenagi Ryou. Cute, irreverent and funny. Though for some strange inexplicable reasons, it keeps reminding me of Minekura Kazuya, especially her Shiritsu Araiso Koutou Gakkou Seitokai Shikkoubu. Maybe it's the eyes; the plot is nothing alike. Anyone who've read the manga (it's apparently serialised in Hana to Yume) got the same vibes?

-- And the sickle was swung at 01:05 p.m.(Monday, March 11, 2002)

I received a VIP ticket to Cirque du Soleil's Alegria yesterday. Have to say that I prefer the previous show, Saltimbanco. It had more energy. But Alegria was still very enjoyable. And contortionists are very sensual creatures.

-- And the sickle was swung at 09:41 a.m.(Monday, March 11, 2002)

Murasaki, I'll try to take a look at Hayabusa. Honestly speaking, I usually throw the Asuka with the rest of the huge pile after translating X. As for my Gingetsu/Kazuhiko fic, Tea, it was actually done for the hourfic challenge on the CFFML, so there wasn't time to do more citrusy stuff.

-- And the sickle was swung at 08:38 p.m.(Saturday, March 9, 2002)

Mwahahaha! Finally, another person who appreciates Gingetsu/Kazuhiko. I'm not alone. *sniffs happily* Anyway, I've written a lime about the two awhile back. No lemons yet.

-- And the sickle was swung at 04:58 p.m.(Friday, March 8, 2002)

Just finished reading all of Angelic Layer. *rant on* Can someone kindly tell me what was the point of the whole thing? Apart from contributing to Clamp's coffers, that is. I ranted about the art (or lack of it) when I first saw volume one, but I prodded on, hoping for the plot to get better. It's one thing to be a fight story for the shounen market, but there must be more to it than the usual "I love the game so I must become stronger" cliche. Heck, at least Pokemon had a cute Pikachu, who had more personality that those robotic Angels. The ending must be one of the lamest ever, not just for a Clamp series but for all manga in general. Shall we say "nothing happened"? *rant off* I'll go smack myself now.

-- And the sickle was swung at 02:00 p.m.(Friday, March 8, 2002)

Angelic Layer 5 (final volume) and Chobits 4 are out in Chinese. I might be mistaken but it seems like Tohan is using the "toilet quality" paper for Angelic Layer, while keeping the pristine white for Chobits.

-- And the sickle was swung at 02:01 p.m.(Thursday, March 7, 2002)

My love affair with Seishirou's "Death" layout didn't last too long. Especially not after I saw this beauty in G Fantasy. I love Yuiga-sensei. May she have a long and productive life.

-- And the sickle was swung at 11:40 p.m.(Wednesday, March 6, 2002)