Current blog flavour:
Illustration taken from August Asuka.   Kamui having a cold shower.  As Fuuma would say, "Kawaii na, Kamui-chan."

Who's Your Inner Koyasu-sama?

While scanning through the other results for the above quiz, I noticed that, other than the man himself, only the bishies are listed. I suppose no one ever remembers him as a loud-mouth kansai student in Gatekeepers or the seriously balding driver in Pretear. ^_^

-- Kamui last bathed at 08:41 p.m.(Wednesday, July 17, 2002)

Lika dearie, marry me, and our mothers would be too scandalised to want to see us appear anywhere near them. We could even have a polygamic wedding with Sat-chan included too. ^_^

On an unrelated note, seems that I bought the English version of Hyde's Roentgen by mistake. Not that it makes a difference since he could be mumbling Korean for all I could figure about his pronunciation. But it's a beautifully atmospheric album, kinda like listening to The Cure.

-- Kamui last bathed at 01:51 p.m.(Wednesday, July 17, 2002)

Japanese producers are clamping down on bootlegs VCDs from Taiwan and Malaysia that are being sold here. That means, it is going to be so much harder to find Japanese anime and drama series because there are so few places, if any, bringing in the expensive original stuff. To see how widely sold the bootlegs are over here, even HMV and, would you believe it, Kinokuniya carried them.

-- Kamui last bathed at 10:48 a.m.(Wednesday, July 17, 2002)

News from Clamp-net: Clamp will be releasing two books of illustrations from their smaller works around the end of August. South Side, published by Kadokawa Shoten, will feature illustrations from Duklyon, Clamp Campus Detectives, Lawful Drug, Suki Dakara Suki, 20 Menso ni Onegai, Miyuki-chan in Wonderland, as well as previous uncollected illustrations from Wish. North Side, under Kodansha, will feature works from Clover, Shin Shunkaden, Souryuuden and uncollected illustrations from Magic Knights Rayearth. Fans of Mick Nekoi should find the South Side very attractive. But North Side is definitely a must-buy!

-- Kamui last bathed at 02:15 p.m.(Tuesday, July 16, 2002)

The Promised Day must be arriving soon. The last time I checked at Clamp-net around the beginning of the month, it was announced that X would be taking a break in the October (August release) issue. Now, it seems that X will be appearing in that issue after all. Have our girls become more hardworking? Or was their summer vacation shelved?

-- Kamui last bathed at 10:55 a.m.(Monday, July 15, 2002)

Don't usually join in these list games except on the Sakura Board, but anyhow...

X/TB Fandom character(s) you'd most like to...

* spend the rest of your life with in perfect bliss: Kamui. Look at that smile. *points to top of blog*

* have an emotionally void but wicked hot one-night stand with: Subaru. He's emotionally void, I'm wicked, and I'll make sure things get very hot.

* watch having an emotionally void but wicked hot one-night stand: Seishirou/Fuuma. If just to see them try to kill each other after the deed.

* set up with your best friend: Kakyou. Cos' she likes him for some strange unfathomable reasons.

* have as your best friend: Karen. I can definitely trust her with my bf/husband, and that's a compliment.

* get wasted with: Arashi. If only to see her drunk and doing all kinds of crazy un-Arashi stuff.

* employ as a live-in masseur: Fuuma. I think he has wonderful hands, when he's not putting them through someone's chest.

* use as a human pillow: Kakyou. He ain't good for anything else.

* bring home to meet the 'rents: Nokoru. Handsome, intelligent, courteous and RICH. Every parents' dream son-in-law.

* have as your sibling: Akira. He cooks well, and he'll "get" me anything I want.

* tie up in your basement and kick when you're feeling frustrated: Seishirou. Because I feel like it.

* tie up in your bed and lick when you're feeling frustrated: I could say Eyeball-san, but Lika would kill me. So I'll have to go with Kamui in tight leathers. Delectable.

-- Kamui last bathed at 12:01 a.m.(Saturday, July 13, 2002)

Sat-chan, I admit I'm an idiot when it comes to art, and having never seen the original I really don't know what's wrong in comparison. But I'd just have to add that the guy looks damn short.

-- Kamui last bathed at 12:19 a.m.(Friday, July 12, 2002)

It's unfair to blame Kamui for the slow pace of X. That fault lies mainly with the two dreamgazers. Just that Kamui gets pinpointed because he appears so often in their tankoubon-spanning dreams. Actually, now with Hinoto's dark side around, we should make that three.

(Hmmm...sounds like Minority Report, except that Kakyou is Agatha, the most gifted precog, while the two Hinotos are the twins.)

Anyhow, had Hinoto or Kakyou made themselves clearer, Kamui wouldn't be all confused. If we, as readers, are confused by their dreams, imagine what it would be like to be in Kamui's shoes. Okay, I grant that the handholding bits with Subaru were nice, but everything else sucks.

Of course, the ultimate fault lies with Clamp, and possibly the Real Segawa Keiichi(tm), for trying to milk the fangirls' patience for all its worth.

-- Kamui last bathed at 12:03 a.m.(Friday, July 12, 2002)

Finally watched Minority Report. All I could say was...EYEBALL-SAN!!!

-- Kamui last bathed at 11:49 p.m.(Thursday, July 11, 2002)

I had my first manga dream two nights ago. Hmmm, I never realised dreams could be animated. What would the Freudians say? Anyhow, strangely, it wasn't about Subaru or Kamui. I should call it a Mary-Sue with Kurapika! Yes, my favourite blond from Hunter x Hunter. But, no, we weren't doing anything particularly naughty. *disappointed sigh*

-- Kamui last bathed at 10:02 a.m.(Thursday, July 11, 2002)

Added Rachel's blog link. Long live Kamui!

-- Kamui last bathed at 09:43 a.m.(Thursday, July 11, 2002)

Bondage pants don't look good on Fuuma. It's too stuffy. Besides, as I've already told you and Sat-chan, if I want my bishies tied up, their pants had better be off.

I wonder if Sat-chan has passed him my blog addy, and if he's reading this. *cackles wildly*

-- Kamui last bathed at 04:55 p.m.(Tuesday, July 9, 2002)

Your comparison fails. Rhett and Scarlett was a relationship of two intelligent, manipulative, agressive, hot-tempered EQUALS. S/S was more like Scarlett and her first two husbands as she abused their infatuation for her, and rode roughshod over their feelings. I don't think anyone ever considered her first two marriages romantic.

Now, for a good story featuring a pair of starcrossed lovers from opposing camps, and where the guy is a ruthless b*****d who murdered the girl's twin brother, and yet the entire thing manage to stay romantic without the sugar, read/watch Legends of Basara. THAT is tragic romance.

-- Kamui last bathed at 02:19 p.m.(Tuesday, July 9, 2002)

Klez WARNING: The PC of someone who knows me and Rachel from the Sakura Board has probably been infected with the Klez virus. Please do a viruscheck to make sure you're not the one. Also, viruscan programs are only as effective as you update them. If you hadn't updated your virus signature files since god-knows-when, don't expect your viruscan to catch the new-fangled worms. Also, patch up your Outlook programs, and DO NOT click on any attachments, even if they apparently came from someone you know. And yes, you can see I'm a little pissed about receiving at least two Klez infected emails per day for the past week alone.

Kurapika really looks like a girl in the manga. Kurot-chan, your HxH fanarts are cool!

Sat-chan, that was really cute. BTW, where's the DJ you owed me? *sweet smile* Thought I'd forgotten, ne?

-- Kamui last bathed at 10:15 a.m.(Tuesday, July 9, 2002)

I so agree. S/S and F/K are the epitomes of abusive relationships, not romance. S/S is also definitely nothing like Romeo&Juliet. Romeo didn't beat up Juliet and kill her closest sibling for his own amusement. Romeo didn't break Juliet's heart, toying with her emotions time and again. I'm going to throw up the next time someone equates S/S with R/J again.

Glad to hear that you've received the package. I haven't checked with Kino about next year's calendar yet. Given the price, it's probably going to be much more expensive than the 2002 version. Kino Singapore usually marks up the prices of Japanese items by another 100% of the equivalent retail price in Singdollar terms.

-- Kamui last bathed at 09:24 a.m.(Tuesday, July 9, 2002)

Kerianne, I have to disagree about Karen. Yes, she's a great woman, but she has deep issues about her self-worth. Short of Hinoto introducing her to that job, I think the whole point of Clamp making Karen a soapland hostess is to emphasise her own self-loathing. She was made to feel unwanted and evil by her own mother, and since then, she was probably shuttling between foster homes. Karen doesn't look the type to be cheated or forced into being a soapland girl by some stupid pimp. I believe she became one in order to denigrate and punish herself for what she believed to be her sins, as she probably felt very responsible for her mother's death. Perhaps she felt she deserved hell.

Being a DOH gave her a newfound purpose in life. She probably thinks she could absolve her sins by saving the city. At the same time, when she told Aoki that she was the best person to fight because all the other Seals were either too young or had family, I think she really meant that she believed she is the one who deserved death because she is the greatest sinner of them all.

If this is truly the case, then the events at Ginza begins to make a little bit more sense. Fuuma doesn't seem to be able to kill someone who doesn't wish for death. Karen subconsciously wish for death because she feels that she has sinned (and we all know the popular Christian hellfire line about the "punishment for sin is death"). But the death of Nataku/Kazuki must have fired her sense of justice, and Karen has a strong sense of justice, if nothing else. Now she wants to live in order to avenge Kazuki. Fuuma, probably unable to kill someone with a strong will to survive, used Kazuki's last wish to avoid fighting her. In any case, I don't think Fuuma is the sentimental type. He certainly didn't think of at least leaving Kotori with a beautiful body after driving the Shinken through her heart.

-- Kamui last bathed at 08:47 p.m.(Monday, July 8, 2002)

Based on this piece of news, seems like even Schwarz should be prepared for major design changes. Hmmm...who wants to take bets that Brad will end up looking like Seishirou's (aka nondescript anime villain in black suit and sunglasses who always make the fangirls go wild) American twin? I suppose we'll see the rest of the cast around the 10th.

-- Kamui last bathed at 04:02 p.m.(Monday, July 8, 2002)

*LOL* If I was ever upset about the X anime, wait till Weiss Kreuz fans see the character designs for the new Gluehen. I think Aya qualifies to be a Leafe Knight, and Yoji is really Farfie's long-lost cousin. Too bad there weren't pictures of Schwarz.

-- Kamui last bathed at 11:16 p.m.(Sunday, July 7, 2002)

No, Ammie, Old Gimpy may not share a bath with Kamui. *pulls Kamui out of the tub, and throws a plugged-in toaster into the water* I hope you like your tentacles fried. And yes, I love Fuuma so much, I'm willing to kill him.

Meantime, my throat still feels like hell.

Lika, I hope that the haiku wasn't in too bad taste. I could have used twin peaks but that would be too much.

And it seems that Yahoo Messenger is not working. *mutters curses*

-- Kamui last bathed at 09:40 p.m.(Saturday, July 6, 2002)

For some strange reason, mom recorded the final episode of Itazura na Kiss for me even though I never once caught any of the previous episodes nor read the manga. Now I'm hitting myself over the head in regret. Kawashibara Takashi is so gorgeous. By god, he's way prettier than all the female leads. And I'm still trying to get over that interesting image of him forcefully kissing Eguchi Yousuke on the lips in Another Heaven.

-- Kamui last bathed at 09:20 p.m.(Wednesday, July 3, 2002)

I'm presently wearing my No. 2 favourite piece of jewellery, a jade bead pendant. For obvious reasons, I've named it Subaru no Me (Subaru's Eye). My No. 1 favourite piece of jewellery is a spiffy-looking Sumeragi Star pendant in white gold and diamonds.

-- Kamui last bathed at 10:11 a.m.(Wednesday, July 3, 2002)

You seem content enough to want to marry her when she is already married to Hinoto. But I certainly don't want to share my life with the Tentacled Gimp. Besides, Fuuma was so distractingly cute and delicious in that photo, it was love at first sight. How could true love possibly be wrong? Alas, the distance boggles me. I must find a good excuse to go to Germany.

-- Kamui last bathed at 09:01 a.m.(Wednesday, July 3, 2002)

Does this mean that Sorata will be killed by the wrath of a jealous Kamisama for defiling "its" favourite miko? Hmmm...makes sense now.

Thanks, Kerianne. Anyway, I don't really hate Fuuma. Lika and Sat-chan can vouch for that. *sweet smile*

-- Kamui last bathed at 10:51 a.m.(Monday, July 1, 2002)

Blog-hopping around, and looking at some of the reasons given in support of Fuuma being a not-so-bad guy, I can't help but see a parallel in the "serially abused wife" syndrome. Very often, when the abused spouse is asked why she kept going back to the husband who often beat her up and made her life hell, her reply would be "After the whole thing, he'll feel remorse for what he had done, and he'll buy me flowers and apologise on his knees. He'll look so sad and pitiful, and I'll feel like a monster if I don't forgive him."

Fuuma doesn't give a damn about who he kills, or don't. He just happened to be woken up by the girl in Ebisu, and touched her mind enough that it suited his fancy to let her live. Otherwise, she would just have been one of many other anonymous people in the area whose lives (and wishes) he's not concerned about. She was lucky. As for delaying the destruction, it wasn't as if Fuuma was in a rush for time. What's a little delay for his "one good deed of the day"?

Furthermore, how are we to measure the strength of one's wish? Who is to say that Karen's wish for Nataku to live is less strong than Nataku's wish to die? Fuuma knew, or perhaps decided, that Nataku should die at Ginza. He's hinted as much in his conversation with Kakyou. As for that expression on his face, he didn't seem genuinely sad. More like a sense of pity to have to discard a once favourite toy.

Finally back to Subaru. If he had died trying to save comatose Kamui, his wish would go up in smoke. This is a big sacrifice for someone who claimed that one's wish is the most important thing, even if it were to bring unhappiness to others. Also, prior to that scene, he had already told Seishirou that he wasn't interesting in the future of the Earth, so what sense of duty is there to talk about? Furthermore, like I've said before, there's nothing to stop new Subaru from killing himself. This way, he'll die with Seishirou in his eye-socket, and maybe even get to meet the complete Seishirou on the other side for some angst-free lemony action. With all those selling points, why isn't he offing himself now? Perhaps Seishirou saw something about Subaru that the boy didn't realise. So now, Subaru has a choice, and he has chosen to live.

-- Kamui last bathed at 09:50 a.m.(Sunday, June 30, 2002)

Hi to Gregorov. I've added you to my list of links. As for why Kamui is having a cold shower, blame Subaru. Yes, I believe that Kamui's true love is Subaru, and if you don't mind spoilers, my reasons are all nicely laid out in my Catharsis of Fate shrine.

In football news, Turkey beat Korea 3-2, and also scored the fastest goal in World Cup Finals history with Suker putting Turkey one up 10.8 seconds into the game. The results further convinced me that if Ilhan (a pal called him "Manga Turk" for his cute looks) had been played upfront from the start, Turkey would probably be playing Germany tomorrow evening, and not Brazil.

-- Kamui last bathed at 10:31 p.m.(Saturday, June 29, 2002)

I have a sore throat. It feels like Fuuma has his fingers gripped tightly around my throat, and I can barely make a sound beyond a whimper.

-- Kamui last bathed at 05:55 p.m.(Saturday, June 29, 2002)

Sure, Subaru seems selfish about his own wish. But here was a guy, whose one true wish was supposedly to die by Seishirou's hand, risking his life (and his wish) to save a boy whom he had never met before. He certainly made an exception for Kamui.

Everyone is selfish if this means that they do not take into account the wishes of others. But who could? Even Fuuma the Wish-Fairy couldn't do this. He killed Nataku knowing full well that Karen doesn't want Nataku to die. And boy, is Karen upset.

But the DOH are different from the DOE in that they are willing to give up their own lives to secure what they thought were the chance of happiness for the other person. Seishirou may be selfish in forcing Subaru to live on. But this is less selfish than forcing Subaru to die with him. Why? Because, by living, Subaru still has a chance to change his life. Death is the end of all opportunities. I mean, there is nothing in the world to stop Subaru from killing himself and dying with with Seishirou in his eye-socket. Most S/S-fangirls want him dead anyway, because they feel that this is the most "romantic" end to their relationship and would bind the two together for eternity. But Seishirou was never that selfish, and therefore I have to disagree with Fuuma about Seishirou being a very selfish person.

As for Kamui, he's willing to chance getting Fuuma back, and assume all the guilt and responsibility for Kotori's death even if this means Fuuma would hate him forever. We don't really know what good Fuuma's (if he exists) wish is exactly. He might be desperately trying to rid himself of his dark side; he might not. He might be happier not knowing, but we can't tell until he's back.

I also have to disagree about Fuuma being selfless at all. He has granted wishes simply because they suited his purpose, and the acts probably gave him a smug sense of self-satisfaction. For example, was there any way out of the Nataku situation? Sure! By not killing Nataku. The kekkai obviously meant nothing to Fuuma if he could just pack up and leave after killing Nataku. So why kill her? Because that was her wish? But Nataku didn't have a choice at that moment. One can say that Fuuma lied about wanting to destroy Ginza, an act that would necessitate Karen's death. Nataku, knowing full well that she could not defeat Fuuma, chose death. How convenient for Fuuma. How manipulative. Ginza wasn't really his target. Remember his earlier conversation with Kakyou? He had to get rid of one DOE so that he could welcome a new one.

-- Kamui last bathed at 05:15 p.m.(Saturday, June 29, 2002)

What exactly sets the Dragons of Heaven apart from the Dragons of Earth?

I found myself asking this question, and an interesting idea popped up. I don't think it is a simple issue of being able to create a kekkai (Kamui can't), or wanting to rid the Earth of humans (Yuuto couldn't care less).

Instead, it is perhaps the fine divide between selflessness and selfishness. The selflessness of the DOH ensured that they're willing to risk their own lives to protect the ones who are important to them. Even Subaru, the most apathetic Seal, was once willing to risk his life to save the comatose Kamui. On the other hand, the selfishness of the DOE meant that they're more concerned about their own interests. E.g. Kusanagi, the nicest of the lot, has more or less chosen to stay neutral. He'd rather keep quiet than reveal the truth to Yuzuriha, because that would force him to choose.

And that, perhaps, is why there were two empty slots within the Dragons of Earth that had to be filled. The two DOEs didn't merely die, they actually switched sides upon their deaths. By the looks of it, Seishirou sacrificed himself so that Subaru may live. Nataku certainly gave up her own life for Karen. Thus, through those selfless acts, they embodied the nature of the DOH. In contrast, Subaru is no longer concerned with anything, much like a DOE. And perhaps something is about to happen that would make Arashi equally self-serving.

Therefore, the balance between the two sides did not really change. Unfortunately, it just so happened that the two new DOHs happened to be dead ex-DOEs. This also ties in neatly with Hinoto's prophecy that all the Seals will die one by one.

If the above is true, it is a twist worthy of Clamp. Seishirou, a Dragon of Heaven. Imagine that. *wince*

-- Kamui last bathed at 10:40 p.m.(Friday, June 28, 2002)

Spoilers for Asuka...

Kakyou: You left Nataku's body to Karen. How sweet of you.
Fuuma: I save on the funeral expenses. Besides it won't cost the Seals a thing. Karen does the cremation, and Sorata handles the funeral, and they'll scatter the ashes in Clamp Campus with the aid of Seiichirou.
Kakyou: Oh.

-- Kamui last bathed at 03:36 p.m.(Friday, June 28, 2002)

Whatever has happened to Isa's blog? It seems to have been "hijacked" by some guy blogging about his dateless problem.

-- Kamui last bathed at 03:33 p.m.(Friday, June 28, 2002)

Some good news. AXN Asia is going to show Gensoumaden Saiyuuki. I hope this means I don't have to search for the second half of the VCDs. Yay!

Meia, I picked up Diabolo too for lack of something better to buy. It's interesting, and if Kei is still doing the artwork, it's a pretty departure from her previous stuff.

Metamia, the sad truth is, some Japanese are still eating horsemeat as exotic sashimi. Yes, they're eating it raw, and the horses are apparently bred in special environment in order to maintain hygiene and taste quality. I also know of at least one Japanese restaurant in Singapore bringing in the horsemeat sashimi.

Sat-chan, does my true love know yet? *sad puppy eyes*

-- Kamui last bathed at 09:47 p.m.(Thursday, June 27, 2002)

Bathtub Kamui was too cute to resist.

-- Kamui last bathed at 09:39 p.m.(Thursday, June 27, 2002)

Parked at:
Tsuriai.net
X Island RPG

ML moderator:
EsperS of Ashurum

Current manga madness:
X by CLAMP
Alichino by Shurei Kouyu
Data by Tachibana Kaimu
Komisch by Tachibana Kaimu
E'S by Yuiga Satoru
Kagerou Nostalgia by Kubo Satomi
Koori no Mamono no Monogatari by Sugiura Shiho
Saiyuki by Minekura Kazuya

Current bishounen madness:
X::Shirou Kamui
X::Sumeragi Subaru
E'S::Kai=Kudou
E'S::Yuuki=Tokugawa
E'S::Eiji=Sagimiya
HunterxHunter::Kurapika
HunterxHunter::Quoll
KnMnM::Blood
Saiyuki::Cho Hakkai
Vampire Princess Miyu::Larva

Spying at:
Aine::Green Tea Ice-cream
Ammie::Castle of Briars
Aoi::Maaya
Audrey::Heresy
Beth::Graphomania in the Snow
G.dLL::Phantasmagoria
Isa::Sweatdrop
Kenchan::Recollection
Kerianne::Space Between
Kim::Star Scream
Kira::Head Like a Hole
Ko::Mitten
Kouri::Kouriarashi
Kristin::Kudaranai
Kurot::Kurot
Leareth::Echoes from the Void
Lika::Under Thlayli's Thrall
Linh::Dancing Mad
Maria::Subterfuge
Megan::Love is Suicide
Meia::Onedimensional
Meimi::Sasayaku
Metamia::Part-time Pimp
Murasaki::Furenchikisu
N-chan::Velvetpaws
Rachel::Rachel
Satsukichan::Pointless
Shell::Opiate of the Masses
Taryn::Random Pie
Technomancy::Mancer.net

Other stuff:
Name::Alison Koh
Contact::alison@starhub.net.sg
Book::My Social Psychology textbooks
Music::New Days Dawn by Hyde
Wish::To have a Sakura Board gathering at Tokyo Tower

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