Name:
=3Kat

About this blog:
I write about the manga I read , the anime/tv shows I watched and somtimes, the PS2 games I played. I tend to summarize them so beware, this blog is filled with spoilers and they are not 100% perfect. Feel free to point out my mistakes. Occasionally, I would blog about myself and other misc. things. ^_^

Layout:
In the blog pic, Misuzu of Air is from Atelier Tiv c/o Nirvelli. Quote is by Helen Keller. Edited in Photoshop CS2. The background is from GRSites. The GB animated gif used to be from this site, Gin-san of Gintama is a screecap from piyopiyo2006 in Youtube and Pleinair by Takehito Harada is from JumpC. Gin and Pleinair edited and animated in Photoshop.

Metal Gear Acid -fin-

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Past Dreams:
2007

01/20/03 - 02/20/03

Blog by pitas

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Manga pics from
Sky-fire & Billwang.

Most of the Quotes are from
Quote Garden, ThinkExist & Our Daily Bread

Monthly Blahs: Manga, Drama and Gaming
Monday, August 20, 2007 @ 02:18 p.m.

Manga: Air Gear [c. 170- 174] is the start of getting Kururu to be in the team. She is almost kidnap but it turned out that it is just her father. It seems that Kanon, Ringo’s tuner, is Kururu’s cousin. She runs away from home and tries living with Ikki in the park. Her patience is tested there as she almost wish to be back home. Then, her father with gang as Heaven Wolf challenges Ikki and others in a a-t contest. Kanon then had a talk with Kururu who told her that her level with Ikki is too high so they aren’t a match. She then decided that she can prove that Ikki’s group can fight with her dad’s group and that is her condition before going home. Soon, they are practicing for fight. Ringo is watching over them when she saw Hako. Finally, the fight between Ikki’s group and Kururu’s dad’s group is about to start. Kururu is going to head over there when Hako greets her. Kururu didn’t notice of the electric stun gun that Hako is holding. Hako doesn’t really know when to quit. She is really out to ‘destroy’ Kururu who is obviously better than her. I’m amused that Kururu’s father also knows A-T and he seems to be the typical overprotective over one’s daughter type.

It seems to be easier to read Liar Game if it is in English because there are a lot of text and probability that I’m too lazy to translate and easily lose track as to who has how much money they have or lost even if every chapter there is a picture summary of that. ^^;; I haven’t finished downloading it up to the current chapter though at present, it does seem that it is in the third round that is different from the drama. The group didn’t split up for they were intact in to battle wits with a new group whose boss is a guy with a mouse. The ‘traitor’ of their group is a former classmate of the mouse guy who used to be bullied. Akiyama makes a plan on how they would withdraw the money but some got greedy that they ended up losing. It turned out that Akiyama has already anticipated this and he is currently confronting the guy of the opposite team who has ‘tricked’ his members. That is in chapter 46. What is happening in the manga made me think if they finished up the drama so there won’t be a part 2 as in there is closure. The finale of the drama isn’t subbed yet so I can’t be quite sure about that.

Shu has gone shopping at the supermarket but failed to get a bargained item. Tokine’s mother offered him with another one she has and invites him and Sen over at their house, surprising Tokine. A scarred eye crow tells Yoshimori that they can bring him to the place he wants to go. The crow seems to be asking for something in exchange. That night, Yoshimori is thinking about something that Tokine approaches him. She reminds me that he isn’t the only protector of Karasumori, she is also a protector. Yoshimori smiles and says, she is right. He then asks her what does crows like. Yoshimori offers a shiny bell to the scarred eye crow is very pleased. He goes off to arrange the travel with others. Two crow with human bodies came and said they will be the one bringing him. He asks about the other one before. They told him he is busy training their boss who is meditating under the waterfall. Yoshimori then asks if they can bring another person. In Tokine’s dojo, Sen asks her about what she felt upon hearing those words [I think from the priestess]. Just then, a crow grabs Tokine as Sen tries to catch up with her. Flying above as Yoshimori holds on the crow, he greets Tokine. To his shock, Sen has grabbed on to Tokine. The three ended up shouting back and forth as Shu is helping out Tokine’s mother with household chores. Hehe, that is quite amusing. I wonder why the priestess didn’t tell them of her premonition as she seems a bit secretive of certain things. Since I just browsed this, I don’t quite know what they are going to do in the place where they are going. ^^;;

In Silver Diamond [v. 11], Rakan is starting to practice some sword fighting skills with Narushige. They later on have a short conversation on words and about Chigusa being like his mother in terms of being ‘naïve’ over things. They were interrupted by another ‘broadcast’ by Kinrei and the prince. They showed off a Sanome which is the little girl that they took from the tree. Rakan is shock to see that she is really like his mother. Narushige is shock to see his mother cooperating with Kinrei. Chigusa is surprised to have seen ‘Rakan’s mother’ somewhere. The announcement is about ‘whirlwinds’ that they will rescued from with the help of the black snake. With a Sanome beside them, they will protect everyone and make the world green again. What everyone doesn’t know is that the prince has no say in this. Kinrei is just using him as a front and has turned the tables on him to make himself the ‘leader’. The prince can’t speak so this gave Kinrei the advantage. He pinned the prince down on the sofa with the help of his rocks. When Rakan and others are about on their way, they see a whirlwind that is made by a small rock creature. They protected a village from it and destroyed it. Later, they go in a library for research. It is around this time when they learned each other’s age except for Chigusa. Rakan is 17, Narushige is 21, Tohji is 19. For Chigusa, he is 12 – 12 years since he has lost his memory. Elsewhere, the snake with Narushige’s sister also destroyed one of those whirlwind creatures who tell people that the real prince is Rakan. Beneath the ground, Kazihi and others met an old guy named Hashiminokoto who tells them where their prince is located. The old man then disappeared. They decided to follow what the man said. Back above, Kinrei is making his black snake destroy the whirlwind he created. He is amused that things are easily going his way. Nothing much happened as everything is pretty typical and the same as in the previous volumes except Kinrei showing his true colors. I do wonder if the prince, if he escapes would team up with Rakan to ‘fight’ Kinrei.

I browsed through Bloody Kiss, a manga I saw in HK. The cover art is nice and obviously from the title, it is a vampire series. The story is about a girl, Kiyo, who inherited a house from her grandma and with that old ‘haunted-looking’ house are two vampires. One of them instantly fall for them. Black Star is actually a half-human, half-vampire who says whom ever he bites would become his bride. I think it is obvious what happens there. The other vampire is Black Star’s guardian/servant who looked after him and seems to ‘like’ him. The story is light and a bit ordinary. I’ll just give a quick mention about it here. The story is kind of cute. The comedy is more on Kiyo can’t cook and Kiyo punching Black Star when he make ‘advances’ on her. There are some pretty romantic scenes though which are nicely drawn. I’m not sure if there is a continuation but the first volume has three chapters. This is already scanlated in English so I’m not going to be too detailed over it.

The first chapter deals with the first meeting. She gets the house and when he tries to bite, she flips him over. She must know karate/judo. He keeps on going after her and she keeps on punching him away. At the end of that chapter, some lawyer wants to destroy the house but Black Star, after drinking her blood, manages to protect it or rather scare them away. Too bad for him that even if he considers Kiyo his bride, she considers him just a boarder in the house. In the second chapter, it is about Kiyo’s work at a bar as she keeps drunk men at bay. At first, Black Star is overly protective that he keeps on disturbing her. In the end, she manages to make him just wait for her after work. Later the two had a fight since Black Star is concern about her health. In the end, the two made up when Kiyo is saved by Black Star from a thief that Kiyo tries to catch. Though she doesn’t protest much over his biting, she still haven’t accepted when he calls her his ‘bride’. The last third chapter is about roses. Kiyo promises to help in a party to make roses to help a girl who wants to give a rose which she will use to propose to her boyfriend. Some mean girls destroyed all her hard work of paper roses. With Black Star’s help, she manages to get the red roses she need in time for the party. Since she is all dirtied from picking the roses the whole night that by the time the party is starting, the two boys dressed her up and accompanied her to the party. It made those mean girls jealous. Before the night ends, Kiyo gives Black Star a paper rose that she made that wasn’t destroyed which Black Star accepts. Nice..if this series is continued, I guess it is a bit predictable as he tries to ‘woo’ her into liking him. I like the third chapter of the three. ^_^

I’m planning to summarize Otomen by Kanno Aya. In Chinese, that translates as the ‘Pink Guy/Boy’. It does seem like gay or bl even with the first volume cover. ^^; I have seen this title floating around in BW and it is until I went to HK and saw the volume 2 cover that I am currently checking it out. I like the plot. The story is about a boy Asuka who everyone thinks is quite manly and everything but the truth is, he can be quite ‘girly’ in a sense he loves shoujo manga, sewing and cooking. Boy, is he good at those latter two. He suppress his girlie ways because his mother has suffered a nervous breakdown when she caught him liking those things. It turned out that his father left them because he wants to live as a ‘woman’ Things changed when he fallen in love with Ryou, a girl he saved from bullies. He started to go back to his ‘girly’ ways. Ryou is a bit boyish partly influenced by her strict athletic father. Asuka can’t help himself from helping Ryou with sewing and cooking. His secret is known by another student, playboy Juuta. Juuta tries to get the two together for he is a shoujo mangaka in secret and he uses them as his material. Asuka as the female heroine while Ryou as the male lead. Soon, the three always hang out together and the series is about the different ‘adventures’ of their daily life. The style of the story is somewhat like Yamada Taro Monogatari as it is a comedy series with light romance. The cast is quite likeable and the art is pretty good. It is serialized in Bessatsu Hana to Yume. Currently, it has 12 chapters in Chinese.

I have watched the first episode of Hotaru no Hikari. It is about an OL [office lady] who has ‘dried up’ that she doesn’t care about socializing and literally becomes a bum if she is in the house. Because of circumstances, she is forced to share the house, that was ‘rented’ to her, with her boss. Her boss is a bit uneasy over the mess she creates as well as the idea of living with her. He seems to have just gotten separated or divorced from his wife. Then, another change happens as the new employee who is the crush of all the other officemates seems to have a crush on her that he kissed her when he thought she is asleep. It has made her confused over what the new guy’s feeling for her. The story is interesting enough and not that boring so I’m going to watch the rest. I’m not that much behind as the translator of this series has done only up to episode 3. Episode two of Yamada Taro Monogatari is about the lead helping his younger brother get a baseball glove by working as a maid at his friend house. Everything ends up everyone happy. The way they are doing the story, it already makes me think of the usual cliché in this type of drama. Three-fourth of the series will be about the lead helping others in their problems while the last one-fourth will be the others helping him. Nevertheless, it is still entertaining to watch though somewhat has become predictable to me. I’m still getting used to the fact as to how different it is from the manga. I do want to mention that the flower arrangements they do in this series, which is suppose to be tea ceremony as in the manga, is really, really pretty. ^_^

Thought of the day:
Events in our lives happen in a sequence in time, but in their significance to ourselves they find their own order the continuous thread of revelation. ~ Eudora Welty

Papillon -Hana to Chou- [Chapter 12]
Saturday, August 18, 2007 @ 07:46 p.m.

Title: Rejection. Chou is shock over what Kyuu said as what the other counselor said echoes in her head regarding a counselor and a patient cannot fall in love with each other. Chou asks if she has become troublesome for him. Kyuu looks at her and remembers all the hassle he had experienced last night courtesy of Kana whom he thought as Chou. There is a scene wherein he can’t study, thinking of what just happened. Kyuu says that is right, he is really troubled. Chou freaks out over this. Kyuu says he only came to pick up some papers. He then goes out to leave. Chou cannot believe that he is leaving that way. She wonders if this meant that they are breaking up..is this how they will break up. She hugs him from behind and thought, I don’t want it like this. Kyuu is surprised and shouts, hey. Chou screams that she doesn’t want to become a bother to him and that she won’t tell anyone that they are going steady. With tears, she begs him not to break up with her. Kyuu looks at her and asks her to let go of him else other people might see them. Chou quickly lets go and apologizes, saying she didn’t mean it. Chou persists that she will not give Kyuu any problems so.. Kyuu whines and tells her that just saying it, everyone can do that. Chou is puzzled. Kyuu tells her that it isn’t what he meant..he is the one wrong, he shouldn’t have given her expectation so they will remain as counselor-student relationship and about being lovers, she shouldn’t mention it again. Kyuu leaves as Chou is stunned.

Outside the school door, Chou sits on the pavement, still stunned. She couldn’t believe it, they will break up that way. She couldn’t accept that they will go back to counselor-student relationship. It is something that she couldn’t accept. She is in tears. Kana smiles upon seeing her twin so frustrated. After dismissal, Chou tries to go to the counselor office again to check if Kyuu is there. She remembers him saying that he only came to get some papers so maybe he already left and isn’t there anymore. She is peeking through the window when to her surprise, a horse head appears. She is so frightened that she screams and is about to run away when horse head waves to her. Thinking it was Kyuu [like how she first met him], she asks him not to go and to listen to what she will say. She asks if a counselor and a student really cannot go steady. There are some stories in schools about teacher-student marriages, so as long as they like each other, why is it not possible. Also, didn’t he answered her confession, doesn’t it mean that he liked her a little bit so please, do not break up with her. She cries that she really wants to go steady with him. To her shock, it is an older guy with curly hair who is in the horse head. The guy says shucks, that is really such a passionate love confession. He hugs her and thanks her for he is really moved. Chou freaks out and shouts that she is mistaken – wrong person.

The man grabs her and asks, whom did she mistaken him for..which counselor has she gone steady with. Chou gets scared for she will be scolded again. The guy then pats her head and says he is just kidding, even if one is a counselor, he is still a person, there are times that one isn’t careful and falls in love and it could be because that she has found a good counselor. Chou is relieved as she sits on the floor. The man asks what is her name. Chou tells him. The man exclaims ah, so you are Chou-chan, with such a cute name, he can’t forget about her. He explains that he knows about her case because Kyuu has reported it to him. He asks could it be the one whom she confessed to is Kyuu. Chou asks why does he know of her and what is this about her case being reported to him. The man apologizes for not clearing things out and tells her that he is Kyuu’s secret military strategist. Chou is confused. The man says in other words, he is Kyuu’s mentor. He tells her that he is a university professor at the next door college and he comes there once in a while as a counselor. He points to the building at the side. He introduces himself as Marui though she can call him Maru-Maru. Chou is a bit surprised and lamely says, how are you. She then asks when will Kyuu come back to their school. Marui says that if Kyuu doesn’t have classes then he will come back. He then remembers something and that Kyuu could be in the guidance counselor room in college. Chou is shock that there is such place in college and asks him where is it. He points out which building it is. While still talking, Chou has quickly run off to the building.

While running to the building, Chou remembers that their high school is a subsidy/sister school of the university so two schools’ students intercommunicate with each other. Upon arriving at the university, she asks some students where is the counselor room. They don’t know and didn’t even though there is such a place. Another student doesn’t know Kyuu while a female student suggests she go to the registrar. Chou asks where is the registrar for the university is so huge. Someone pats her back and Chou freaks out again upon seeing the horse head. She then asks if he is Marui. Horse head says, shucks, call me Maru-Maru. Removing the horse head, Marui tells her that this cannot be, if she just rush and go there, this will just startle Kyuu. He suggests that she calms down and drink a cup of tea. While sitting on a bench, Marui says he has heard that she has lived with her Grandma so that would mean she is apart from her parents’ heart. He tells her that when she was young because of that arrangement that she has to leave her parents, no matter how she wished, she cannot go to them because it is beyond her ability as a young child. Seeing the love that they have showered on her twin, it would seem that she has been abandoned. Because she isn’t accepted by her parents, she feels that she is unhappy/lucky. He tells her that currently, she is still the same. Just because Kyuu didn’t accept her, she feels as if she is unhappy/lucky. The current her just gives all her heart and emotion to Kyuu that everything he does will easily affect her. Chou tries to explain why she does that. Marui explains that there will be an opposite effect, if she kept on pressuring him like that, he will try to escape far away.

Marui asks her, how about thinking if you are a boy, do you want to go steady with a girl like yourself. Chou looks flustered as she thought about it. The man smiles and says a little speech. I am I. You are you. I am born for myself. You are born for yourself. I wasn’t born just to satisfy you and you weren’t born just to satisfy me. You are you. I am I. When two people fall in love, it is the most beautiful thing. If they don’t fall in love, then, this is not meant to be. She asks what is he quoting from. Marui tells her that it is from ‘The Art of Loving’ written by a German psychologist named Erich Fromm. [Thanks to Asher for looking it up for me ^_^] He tells her that we cannot change people, for we can only change ourselves. Chou asks does he want her to break up with Kyuu. Marui says that is not what he meant, he just wants her to relax a bit for if she kept on pushing, it might cause an opposite effect. Chou shouts but if she didn’t chase him, he will go far away from her. She prepares to go off running and shouts back that if she didn’t chase after him now, she might not have that opportunity again. Marui sighs and says it is nice being young, it is spring after all.

While running around, wondering where is Kyuu, Chou finds him sitting on the grass. Kyuu seems to be preparing to do some paperwork or draw something when he is shock upon hearing Chou shouting for him. He looks a bit nervous and blush as bit as he turns away. Chou is a bit stunned over his reaction. Kyuu seems to be wiping his eyes or composing himself before standing up and approaching her. He asks what is the matter. She stammers as she tries to tell him that she has something important to tell him and that she really wants to be with him.. She stops upon seeing Kyuu’s slightly disappointed/troubled face. She remembers Marui’s words about giving all her emotions on Kyuu and if she kept on pressuring him, it might create an opposite effect, he might run far away from her. Kyuu calls her name as she goes into deep thinking. She remembers more of Marui’s words – You are not born for the sake of satisfying me. If two people fall in love, then it is a beautiful thing. If they don’t fall in love, then, it wasn’t meant to be. Kyuu asks what is the matter. Chou composes herself. She lifts up her head again and smiles at him. To Kyuu’s shock and puzzlement, Chou thanks him. She happily says that even if they have gone steady for only one day, she is really lucky. She is really, really grateful to him. Still smiling but tears are already coming out of her eyes, she tells him it is great that I have met you, I will try my best to become a nice lady. Kyuu is surprised. She bids him goodbye. She couldn’t smile anymore as she is in the verge of crying that she quickly runs away, leaving Kyuu puzzled. Elsewhere, Marui finds her. He congrats her for doing well for he has seen it. She is in tears as she must have thanked him for she is bowing to him. He hugs her to comfort her while she cries. I do not want to become a burden to sensei/Kyuu, I wish him happiness, I want to be with him happily smiling.

Poor Chou..things didn’t turn out well thanks to her twin. The way she is pressuring herself on Kyuu doesn’t give her good points to make him want to continue their relationship. As Marui pointed out, her happiness has become depended on Kyuu accepting her as was it is before, her happiness depended on her parents accepting her. With some advice, he has told her to accept herself first and give some space for pressuring Kyuu would make him leave her even more. Basically, he is telling her to be more confident and not be easily discouraged just because things don’t go as she wanted it to be. It is really something for Chou to actually force herself to let go of Kyuu. It does seem Marui is her fairy godfather. Hehe Kyuu does seem to like her but thought that they can’t be a couple because Chou is ‘depending’ too much on him. He is a bit depress when Chou started the usual, I really need want to be with you. I’m amused over his expressions when Chou changed it to letting him go and thanks him over what he has done. I wonder what he will do next – ask her what happened, chase after her – he did made her cry, etc. The last blurb in the chapter is Chou and Kyuu has just started going steady and it is already over?! From the looks of it, yes...though maybe something might happen in the next chapter..like Kyuu knowing that the girl he dated that night is actually Kana. ^^;

Quote of the day:
Thank God in your disappointment, celebrate His grace and love; Know that He will never leave you and will bless you from above. ~ D. De Haan from Our Daily Bread

Penguin Revolution [Chapter 31]
Friday, August 17, 2007 @ 10:57 a.m.

Narazaki is meditating on top of the building when he notices Yukari as male entering the building with Ryou. He exclaims that he has already returned. Then, he noticed that both Ryou and Yukari seems to be blushing-smiling at each other. In the president’s room, the president thanks Yukari for her hard work. She says it is nothing though she is really surprised to have seen Youko in Morocco. She even got to talk with her so she is very happy as well as her mother. A flashback of her mother accompanying her to watch Youko’s movie before. Yukari confesses that her mother is a fan of Youko. Yukari then exclaims that she is really surprised that Ayaori and Ryou are alternates to the play. The president says she is mistaken for the alternates are Ryou and Youko. Yukari is stunned as she thought that it would seem that Ryou is becoming an ‘actress’. The president says while conscious, it could be said that Ryou and Youko will ‘combine’ but Youko should not lose. In the studio, Ryou is practicing his dance/moves. Then, he lies down on the floor remembering Youko saying about the two young men having talent. Ryou wonders if Youko had watched the movie, that is why she has awaken again, if it is true. He remembers the two of them reading to Youko. His thoughts continue, if it is true, could it be because of him [Ayaori]. Yukari then peeks in and calls out to Ryou. Ryou sits up. Yukari breaks the news to him.

Ryou becomes gloomy that it is another female role and he might really live as an ‘actress’. Yukari says not to worry for Ryou can become like a guy. Ryou weeps, like a guy. Yukari gives him a thumbs up. Yukari cheers him up for being in the same role as Youko, he is already near [the goal] and he should be more confident. Ryou laughs and says, that is right. Ryou gets embarrassed being cheered up like that. To Ryou’s surprise, Yukari is also blushing over him. They were interrupted when Narazaki appears from behind. Narazaki draws his bokuto and tries to hit Ryou. Yukari made Ryou trip backwards to avoid Narazaki’s attack though Ryou hit the floor hard. ^^;; Narazaki says slice after he had missed. Yukari screams at Narazaki that what he did is really dangerous, it is okay trying to hit him/her but why does he have to hit Ryou and even saying ‘slice’. Narazaki blushes at her and welcomes her back. Yukari shouts I’m back though this isn’t the time for saying this. Narazaki asks what had happened in Morocco. Yukari stammers as she says yes..yes..a lot of things. Still blushing, Narazaki says that he/she has changed and has become more pretty. This take Yukari by surprise that she starts to blush over what he just said. Narazaki was about to say but... He then quickly evades Ryou’s shoe that is thrown at him. Ryou quickly grabs blushing Yukari and runs out of the studio. As they run out, Narazaki touches his chest and asks, but..why..do I feel pain? While Ryou is still running, Yukari is all dizzy and says that Narazaki just said something strange. Ryou tells her not to mind what Narazaki said for he is a weirdo for Yukari should be defined as ‘cute’. This surprises Yukari. Ryou stops running as he realizes what he just said. The two are blushing even more as Ryou apologizes to her.

At the hospital, Youko seems to be in the ICU as all sorts of tubes are connected to her. The president worriedly looks at her. Youko smiles and says why is he having such an expression. She tells him to relax for she doesn’t plan on sleeping yet. The president slightly smiles and says Yes. Back at the apartment, Ayaori greets the two upon their return. Ryou asks didn’t he have a shooting. Ayaori says he will leave in a moment for there is still a bit of free time. He then asks why are their faces all red. The two were shock as they exclaim that it is nothing. Ayaori doesn’t seem to buy it as he stands up and prepares to go out. Ryou asks if he is leaving already. Ayaori says yes for it is already time. Somehow, Yukari has already changed clothes and tells Ayaori to wait for a while. Ayaori wonders what’s up. Yukari quickly takes some rice and makes some onigiri [riceball]. She gives three of them to Ayaori as she tells him to eat it while shooting so that he won’t become hungry. Ayaori is surprised then he smiles while blushing a bit. Ayaori says, yes. Ryou notices Ayaori’s gentle expression. After he left, Yukari asks what’s wrong with Ryou who kept still and didn’t greet Ayaori to take care [on his way]. Ryou says it is nothing. Yukari happily says that she still has to cook dinner and do some house chores. She wonders what should she cook for dinner. Ryou is still thinking about Ayaori’s reaction when the doorbell rang. Ryou answers it as he shouts if Ayaori forgot something. To his surprise, two men in black with sunglasses tells him to go with them. After the shooting, everyone is awed by Ayaori as everyone greet each other good work. His manager asks if he wants to eat something before going home. Ayaori says he will just eat at home. Then, a couple of men in black also came to get Ayaori as well as other Penguin actors.

In a ship, inside an audience hall, it turned out that it is the president who called them. He laughs and asks if he has startled them. Narazaki is happy that he is seated beside Yukari. The president thanks them for coming there after work for this is an entrusted work. He says that because of everybody’s work, ‘Dream Stairway’ has become a success and things flowed smoothly as Peacock’s ‘offering’ and the next ‘offering’ is now the stage drama ‘Dream Stairway’ wherein the cast is Ayaori, Ryou and Youko. Ryou looks a bit nervous. He tells them that everyone has a ‘substitute’ so if they can’t act it is okay but in this offering, it would be a rare experience so he would hope that they would all participate that is why he needs their strength. Everyone is a bit nervous of the challenge. Fukadu [number 8 peacock] asks if everyone there are already the chosen ones, he finds it a great honor. The president thanks him. Yukari is awed by Fukadu’s confidence. Then, they heard an announcement that they have already arrived in their destination. The president tells them that they are now in the place where they will practice for the place so that they will come up with great performances. He opens the windows as he mentions that it is already sunrise. From the window, they see an island. The president says that this is Peacock’s deserted island where the play will be done. A narration says now starts the strict training.

Hehe, being the crazy president that he is, who makes people cross-dress, he now wants to put them in survival island. Lol The one who will survive would most likely be Yukari and Narazaki. Yukari can cook and all that stuff while Narazaki seems to be quite athletic – can do fishing, etc. The one who would have a hard time would be Ayaori. Well, that is if it is indeed the kind of training I’m imagining ala survival island. I wonder if that is what the president have in plan. Well, obviously, it is all for his wife, Youko. It turned out that her sickness haven’t been cured that is why she isn’t with her family. Poor Ryou, aside from about his mother, he is still stuck in a woman’s role. ^^; To my dismay, it does seem that Yukari now has a harem. Three guys have fallen for her. It does seem that Ryou has noticed of Ayaori’s blooming affections for Yukari. Lastly, the way the president used hoodlum-like people to get them together, he does seem to be like his rival, Yasuoka. ^^;;

Quote of the day:
All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them. ~ Galileo Galilei

Skip Beat! [Chapter 109]
Thursday, August 16, 2007 @ 07:30 p.m.

At Kura’s hotel room, Kyouko raises up her hand and says, teacher, to Kura. Kura asks what is it. Kyouko asks if she has differed from his image of his son since at the middle she has changed it from how she is acting the role. Kura tells her that he didn’t tell her become her son but for her to do her image of his son. He adds that he never thought of her not being Kuon even once so Kyouko has successfully created the role. Kyouko looks sad that Kura asks why is she having that reaction when he just told her she has succeeded. Kyouko sadly denies she isn’t happy. Kura thought he can’t do anything with Kyouko. Just then, they were interrupted by a phone call. Kura takes the call and it is the president/Lory. Kyouko thought it is better for her not to eavesdrop so she goes to the dining table. While sitting there, she remembers Kura happily eating her fried eggs. She looks downcast. [Perhaps because the role has ended.] Kura makes an appointment to meet with Lory at 11 that night in Lory’s house. Kura tells Lory that he is surprised that it actually work as they planned it. Lory says, he had surmise that it will end to that when Kyouko went to LME to borrow some clothes for a 15-16 year old American boy. Kura laughs and says it seems as if Lory knew that he is going to meet with him [Ren]. Lory tells him that he is a good guesser. Lory advices him not to be too happy about the meeting since from his [Ren] voice, it is quite monotonous so it could be that he is really angry compared to what Kura thought.

Kura says he understands and he will prepare his heart though he still feels he is pretty lucky for his role at the start was to be an ‘irritating guy’ to Kyouko. Lory says that it failed because Kura’s real nature showed up and he ended up becoming an acting coach though it is a good thing that they got Ren hooked in else, the one who would end up in trouble would be him, Kura. Kura apologizes. He then asks Lory if he had seen a raw diamond, isn’t it natural to want to polish it. Lory says he understands Kura for he also likes to polish though it could be said that he is more into mining and looking for something surprising things. Kura says, true, isn’t it, makes one feel excited. Lory asks if there is something he felt with Kyouko. Kura tells him that Kyouko can become a really ‘great actress’ if she can overcome a certain weak point. Later on, Kyouko looks gloomy and depress after Kura told her what her weak point is and if she overcome it, she can do any roles. Kyouko still lamely says yeah. It made Kura angry that she threatens to flick her forehead. Saluting, she quickly perks up and says, yes, sensei, I understand.

While walking in the streets, Kyouko remembers what Kura has told her earlier. He told her that she must ‘like doing the role she is doing’ as she is able to become a person that she is not and in that way, she won’t be choosing which roles she would want to do or not. Kyouko is surprised that Kura has read through her. To Kyouko’s shock, she is being compared to a white radish who didn’t get enough nutrients for she is way too picky with her roles hence she can’t grow. Kura told her that it seems she haven’t experienced the joy of acting since she didn’t feel ‘lonely’ when a role has ended. Kura explains that she already has the qualifications to become an actress and if she overcome that, she will grow as an actress that there is nothing more he can teach her. Kyouko becomes even more gloomier. She is now in her Bou [chicken] suit. Kyouko thought that she is really happy when doing the role of Kuon for she has experienced many emotions that she has never experienced before since her Mio role is limited in emotions. It is as Kura said, she felt what it is like to be someone other than herself. Regarding what Kura said about not to stop acting and do whatever roles, it means that she shouldn’t be picky for she doesn’t know when there would be more opportunities to get more roles and she would want to try all sort of different roles for her to find acting interesting. Kyouko looks at the clock on her mobile phone. She thought, 25 minutes has passed. She thought that in reality, she did felt lonely when her role as Kuon is over though she can’t say it to Kura. She sadly remembers Kura telling her that if she overcome that weakness, she can grow as an actress and there is nothing he can teach her. She thought if she said it – that she did felt lonely -, that would mean her relationship with him as a ‘student’ will be over.

At Lory’s mansion, Lory is reading a book in the living room while Kura is walking all over the place. Lory tells him he is a bother and blows a tranquilizer dart on Kura. On the table, there are various appetizers and some drinks. Lory tells him to clam down for he should already have prepared his heart. Sitting on a chair, Kura grumpily tells him he has already did that but he is still nervous for they haven’t met since five years ago. Lory said he has already met Ren this afternoon. Kura says that is why he is nervous for he already talked about Dark Moon, what else would there be to talk about. Lory tells him not to worry for he thinks that Ren would slash him a question and Kura would be force to talk even if he doesn’t want to. Kura says that’s right then he becomes gloomy as he seems to be suffering in pain from an imaginary wound. Lory says it seems that Kura haven’t prepared his heart for Kura is easily swayed in front of him [Ren]. Just then, a servant comes in to tell them that he has arrived. Kura is startled as Lory exclaims Ren has already arrive, as expected of the never-late king. He calls Kura who then looks serious at Lory. Ren enters the room and stops in front of Kura who is now standing.

Hehe, I was wrong...Ren did call up Lory to meet with Kura. I guess there are things he would want to talk to Kura that he doesn’t want others to hear. Nothing much happened in this chapter as it is focuses on Kyouko’s weakness as an actress which if she overcome, she can be a great actress perhaps even to beat Shou in popularity. Currently though, she has all forgotten about Shou for she has grown attached to Kura as her mentor. I guess it is partly her lack of parental figure that is like Kura who is really nice to her. It is interesting that Kyouko was ‘left’ by her mother/parents while in contrast, Ren who has them, has ‘abandoned’ them. The cover of this chapter seems to be Ren in blond hair and the blurb says about his past. So I guess the author is now going to tackle a bit of Ren’s past. Just like Kyouko who has to overcome her weakness, this is something that Ren has to overcome.

Quote of the day:
I have had dreams and I have had nightmares, but I have conquered my nightmares because of my dreams. ~ Jonas Salk

Vampire Knight [Chapter 31]
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 @ 02:39 p.m.

Before heading out to class, Yori tells Yuuki who is still in bed that she will later call the school doctor to check on her to be sure. After Yori left, Yuuki is thinking about the events last night – Kaname confessing his love to her. She couldn’t think nor answer. She holds her head in pain as she thought even if she don’t know of the past, she is sure that Kaname knew. Not wanting to know is already in the past. I no longer thought of the possibility between her and Kaname for I feel that it is something that I shouldn’t think of because I and Kaname are different. Yuuki then realizes something as she says, I understand..I’m afraid of..what if I answer him. The school bell rings. In Yuuki’s classroom, the teacher tells them that she has an announcement so will everyone be quiet. She calls on a boy to introduce himself. The boy greets everyone and says that he will be a classmate of theirs from now on. Yuuki enters the room by crawling. Yori is surprise to see her and whispers if her headache is okay. Yuuki apologizes and says that it is all better now. She asks Yori if Zero has arrived already. Yori says he haven’t come in yet though look. She points to someone in front. Yuuki peeks from the bench where Yori is sitting and is shock to see Ichiru that she stood up. Ichiru is saying that because of some reason, he wasn’t able to live together with his brother, he is Zero’s younger twin brother, Ichiru Kiriyuu, nice to meet you all. Yuuki exclaims in shock. The teacher reprimands her to go back to her seat upon coming in the classroom. Yuuki is embarrassed as she sits beside Yori.

Yori whispers and asks didn’t she hear about it from the president. Their teacher then tells the class president to help Ichiru get used to the school and take care of him. The class president shouts yes. The teacher then tells Ichiru to take his seat. Yuuki worriedly wonders if he came for revenge, for he must know that it is Zero’s bullet that took Shizuka’s life but why would the president.. Then Yuuki suddenly wonders who is the true murderer of Shizuka though it is best to clear up the misunderstanding. While Yuuki is in deep thought, Ichiru passes by her seat. He whispers to her, Zero..his taste isn’t quite different..but I haven’t thought that he would value you so much. Yuuki is shock and thought, what?! he is pretty much the same as Zero. Yori asks if Yuuki knows him. Yuuki says yes, a little bit. Yori says it seems if compared to Kiriyuu number 1’s nature, his [Ichiru] is more vile. Yuuki says she is right. Yori smiles and says so it seems that number one value Yuuki. Yuuki is surprise and exclaims, eh? Then, she blushes a bit. The school bell rings. [I guess to signal a break between classes] Everyone is talking about Ichiru. A blushing girl says she didn’t know that Zero has a twin. Another blushing girl asks, are you identical twins, why aren’t your hairstyle the same? Ichiru says do they want him to have the same hairstyle, he would then get a haircut. The girls are happy and says, really, wow, really straightforward. The president mentions that compared to his brother, Ichiru is more lively so if he doesn’t know something, don’t hesitate to ask him. Ichiru smiles and thanks him. Yuuki taps on his shoulder and asks if she can talk with him for a second.

Yuuki is walking ahead of Ichiru at the hallway. Ichiru then calls out to her and says he thinks she is going to bring him to a place where they can be alone to talk but is she stupid. Yuuki looks back at him and is puzzled. Ichiru tells her that she is taking an initiative to take the enemy where they can be alone but doesn’t even think of any plan what to do next, it is because of this that she is making Zero worry. Yuuki just quietly stands there and holds her skirt. Just then, they notice some girls running away from a certain direction. Yuuki is stunned as she sees Zero is the one whom they are running away from and he has this dark aura. Zero goes to where they are. Ichiru says that he guessed that it is because of Zero that everyone is running away. To Yuuki’s surprise, Zero pulls her to his back and angrily says if Ichiru wants revenge, he should quickly get back at him. Yuuki nervously looks at Zero. Ichiru says, what..it seems that you also agree that I transfer in but it doesn’t seem for the reason of comforting your poor younger brother but let’s end it for the day, on the contrary, you won’t quietly wait when I extract my revenge. He turns back and says he is going back to the classroom, would [they] tell him later what room is he staying in the dorm. Yuuki is still looking at Zero. She suddenly pulls Zero’s hair. Zero shouts that hurts, what are you doing. Yuuki looks surprised and says, ah. Zero says, ha, you pulled out some of my hair, what are you unhappy about. Yuuki nervously says it is nothing and apologizes. Yuuki thought that she doesn’t feel he is the same as the calm Zero. Last night’s Zero seems as if he is fast sinking into Level E but now..it seems. Yuuki looks at him as she tries to pinpoint what changed Zero. She touches his forehead and asks could it be because he has a fever. Zero asks what is with her today.

Zero turns around and says that they should go back to the classroom. Yuuki asks if it is okay, they are in the same classroom. Zero tells her that he should have told her about Ichiru coming last night so she won’t be that surprise. Yuuki is shock that Zero actually agreed in letting Ichiru transfer in. Yuuki tells him that he should have consulted her about it. She worriedly wonders about the events that happened during the dance and four years ago between the brothers. She quicken her pace and turns around to Zero. She puts her hand together and bow to Zero – asking a favor. She tells Zero that she knows that this is inappropriate but she would ask a favor of asking him to accompany her to moon dorm since Kaname haven’t answered her question yet. The next time, she will surely ask him more clearly so would Zero be beside her to keep her from escaping. Zero looks at her in surprise then looks away. Yuuki didn’t notice this as she says if Kaname still doesn’t tell her of her past, she would have no way to advance/move on. Yuuki bows again and says, favor. Zero puts his finger between her eyebrows and tells her to stop scowling. Blushing, Yuuki touching her forehead calls out his name. Zero says he will listen to her if that is what her true heart truly desires so please stop making him scrowl. The words of Kaname echo, don’t ever forget, this blood, who gave it to you. Zero replies, shut up, I already know that, after all, this is the choice I decided on.

Flashback to last night: They are in the bathroom which is all messed up. Zero is sitting near the broken bathtub while Kaname seemed to have pulled in a chair near the broken wall to sit and watch over Zero. Kaname’s blood dripped on his sleeve. Kaname complained that the place where Zero’s bullet grazed him still hurts that is why he hates weapons used against vampires though it is a good thing that Zero’s bite didn’t leave any mark. Kaname told breathing hard Zero that it makes him angry that Zero didn’t even want to stop biting. Zero got angry and smashes the wall with his arm. Zero said he is the one who should be angry, why don’t Kaname just endure that small wound. Kaname smiled and said that it seems that Zero has regained consciousness, has his blood blended in Zero’s body that has made Zero really unhappy..even causing such a fuss. Zero stood up and said, why don’t he see for himself how poisonous is his blood. Kaname said he has heard that Kuran is the direct line of the vampire’s first ancestor that it is quite thick and can be said to be medicine to slow down the degeneration to Level E. Zero prepares to leave. Kaname tells him because of the disturbance and his blood’s smell, it would seem that the whole dorm is disturbed so he would advice Zero to go out the window for the problem at this time is about Zero being exposed. Kaname says that it seems that Zero has already prepared and also about him not being able to answer what Yuuki wants to know, it is for Yuuki’s best interest. End flashback. Outside Kaname’s room, Aidou and the others are waiting. Ruka is worried about Kaname but Aidou assures her that Kaname is fine. Kaname is looking out the window. He touches his neck then glances to the door. He hesitates a bit then head to the door to open it.

Elsewhere, Ichijou sadly looks at a bed and then says, I said..wake up already..Senri. Senri is sleeping on the bed. Senri wakes up a bit and tucks in the blankets. He says, be quiet, Ichijou-classmate, it is so bright today. Ichijou is shock and calls out Senri’s name. He asks him if he is alright, sorry, but wake up. Senri holds Ichijou’s arm and gloomily says, Senri..Senri..you are too noisy, Takuma [Ichijou’s name]. Senri’s eyes are now heterochromatic. Ichijou tensely asks where is Senri. ‘Senri’ says that Senri is ‘inside’ sleeping, the Senri Icjijou knows. Pointing to himself, ‘Senri’ says that saying it like that to himself, is a bit strange but it is really cute – his son. Ichiou appears from behind and asks if ‘Senri’ has gotten accustomed to his son’s body. Ichijou nervously calls out to his grandfather. ‘Senri’ complains that it is one after another, do they really want to disturb his sleep but it doesn’t matter, he has more or less gotten accustomed to it. Ichiou bends down and kisses ‘Senri’s hand. Ichiou informs that that the people who are prepared to greet His Majesty has already went to school, it is has ‘Senri’ has said, he didn’t get much trouble in infiltrating in. ‘Senri’ asks if it is about the child that Shizuka brought up. Ichiou says that [they] can confidently say that the day of his true resurrection is already near, Kuran Rishi-sama, the true head of Kuran family. [I used the kanji-romanji engine, it is Rishi though in wiki, it is Rido] Ichijou looks a bit nervous and sad. Rishi says then now, he should go have a meeting with his not-so-cute nephew..is it Kuran Kaname? It is already dismissal in school, Ichiru with arms crossed, is standing near a tree watching Yuuki when Kaname passes by. Yuuki is shouting for the others to head straight to their dorm. She is startled when Kaname calls out to her to commend her good work. Yuuki turns around to him, blushing. Yuuki greets him as Ichiru is intently watching them.

It turns out that Yuuki is quite indecisive that when Kuran finally confesses, she gets cold feet on answering him. So, was everything just infatuation? I wonder if Yuuki’s headache is from the bloody scenes he has been seeing or Kaname’s confession has shock her so much that she ended up sick. Hehe Ichiru seems to have able to ‘play along’ with the others. As I had pointed out before and Ichiru points out now, Yuuki is indeed a bit naïve and tends to do things impulsively rather than think things through that it makes Zero worried. Heck, it also makes Kaname worried that he assigned Zero as the bodyguard. I guess Zero’s aura has become more ‘dark vampire-ish’ that people gets scared of him. It is either that or he is really angry to see Ichiru with Yuuki in fear of Yuuki being harmed. I guess the most possible alibi Kaname can give is that he and Zero had a fight that he cut himself. They cannot exclude Zero out of the alibi because Kaname’s friends knew that Zero came that night into his room. I’m a bit surprised for it turned out that the main villain is Kaname’s uncle so that means Kaname and Senri are cousins? But why the different surname? It would seem that Kaname’s parents got killed because of a power struggle within the family but why did they keep Kaname alive? In case, Rishi can’t be resurrected? It would seem that Yuuki is somewhat related to all this. With the council head, another Kuran and Ichiru as enemies even possibly Ichijou, Kaname does have a lot of troubles ahead of him no wonder he made lots of preparations when that happened. About that scene between Kaname and Zero, I actually thought lots of omake questions there. I find it so amusing. So, they wreck Kaname’s bathroom..did Kaname spend the whole night fixing it to make it appear as if nothing happened? Where would he take a bath now? Hehe

Quote of the day:
You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win. ~ Zig Ziglar

Weekly Jump: Bleach, Naruto, One Piece, D. Gray-man and Gintama
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 @ 12:14 p.m.

Grimmjow unleashes his most powerful attack as he got cocky that he can defeat Ichigo in Bleach [c. 285-286]. To his surprise, Ichigo slashes through his attack. Ichigo attacks back and shouts that yes, he is indeed out to defeat Grimmjow and everyone else against them so that he can take everyone else back with him. Ichigo stabs into Grimmjow. Grimmjow falls down as Ichigo’s mask has finally breaks off. He goes to Inoue and asks if she is alright. Inoue is relieved that Ichigo is back to normal. Neru then jumps into Ichigo’s stomach as Ichigo gets thrown backwards. Ichigo shouts at her for they might fall down. Neru is happy that Ichigo is alive. Inoue tells Ichigo that she is fine. To her shock and embarrassment, Ichigo carries her on his shoulder. Ichigo is oblivious to how Inoue is feeling. Ichigo just wants to jump down while carrying her and Neru. Inoue tries to say that she is heavy but Ichigo says he doesn’t find her that heavy. Neru hits him shouting that he should say that to a girl. After jumping down, Ichigo plans to bring them with him as he goes to help Rukia and Chad. To everyone’s shock, Grimmjow is standing behind them. All bloody, Grimmjow draws his zanpaku as he reverts to his normal form. Grimmjow tries to attack as he shouts how could he lose. Ichigo throws away his zanpaku and stops Grimmjow with his bare hand. Ichigo tells him to give it up for he has lost. Just then, a double-moon blade cuts into Grimmjow. It is Noitre who says really won’t give up, why don’t you die already, that shinigami is mine. Oh yeah, as I mentioned before, everyone indeed want a piece of Ichigo. The disadvantage of being strong. Everyone wants to prove that they are strong so they defeat him but Ichigo only wants to be stronger to protect others. I think Noitre has a higher rank than Ulquiorra so Ichigo might be in big trouble unless something else happens.

Kisame and Itachi are walking in the rain in Naruto [c. 364-365] when Kisame asks if Itachi is grieving though he is now the sole member of Uchiha. Itachi tells him that Sasuke is still alive and the storm has passed. The clouds did clear up. In an inn, Sasuke asks if they have any news of Itachi. This group tells him none, they only generally knew of the bases that Akatsuki has. Because of Suigetsu’s teasing, the group almost killed each other if it haven’t been for Sasuke. Naruto and others have re-grouped. Naruto learned that Sasuke was there and there was a fight. A dog with Sakura informs them that he has sense of one of those smell earlier that means that Sasuke has companions. With Kiba’s help, they can track down Sasuke. Back to Akatsuki, the woman tells Pain that it would be harder to capture Naruto for he has become stronger and has many comrades now. The unknown guy says that Pain has never lost and soon their goal will be achieved. He tells Pain to tell the others to get their respective tailed beasts. That unknown person turned out to be Tobi, or rather Madara Uchiha. In the hole of his swirl face is a sharingan. While Karin goes to shopping and plans to seduce Sasuke, she suddenly senses something. She realizes that the Leaf are after them. Just when Suigetsu is going out to find Karin, Karin kicks the door and him down with it. She tells Sasuke that they were followed. Sasuke tells them that they are leaving and go to the places that Juugo found to be Akatsuki bases.

Before they leave, Karin, being the crazy fangirl she is, gives Juugo a piece of cloth belong to Sasuke. She tells him to use it to divert the chasers with the help of his friend birds. Kiba has sensed this as he quickly told the others that Sasuke is leaving and his scent has split up. Naruto decided to look at all those places as he create his clones. Somewhere else, Sasuke plans to check up on one of the Akatsuki bases alone. While jumping around, Naruto senses something and quickly hides. He sees a shadow with sharingan eyes. He wondered if it is Sasuke. It turned out that a bird above him has Sasuke’s cloth. The shadow turned out to be Itachi. Itachi calls out for Naruto to show himself. Naruto gets the jackpot. Hehe I wonder if Itachi is alone and if he is there because he is also following Sasuke. Is it just a coincidence? Would it be like Bleach, Itachi vs Pain as they both want to get Naruto? I do wonder why Tobi/Mandara wanted Pain to get Naruto when Itachi is the one assigned to him? With Mandara interested in Sasuke, they do seem to want to boot Itachi out. My wild theory is that massacre by Itachi could have something to do with Mandara. I guess that swirl face is just a mask.

Usopp tries to attack Perona but it seemed as if she became a ghost in One Piece [c. 466-467]. Everything passes through Perona and she can change size. After teasing Usopp, she now uses her ghosts as bombs. When Usopp is hit by Kumancy, he begins to talk to his alter-ego Sogeking as he tries to gather courage and think what has just happened. He wondered why was Perona scared earlier and now became courageous. He manages to exorcist Kumancy’s shadow. Usopp then wonders if Perona has become a ghost and hide her real body. He finds a room and Perona’s real body, sitting on a bed. Usopp attacks it but Perona thought it is a dud for nothing happened. Perona created a huge ghost which goes on Usopp’s head. Perona goes back to her body and was about to make the ghost explode when Usopp used his dial to absorb the explosion. Perona realizes that she is stuck on the bed with some sticky gum. Usopp says it is to keep her there and the shot earlier wasn’t a dud. A hippo zombie is about to attack Usopp. He uses the explosion in the dial to finish it off. Usopp fires at Perona with cockroaches. Perona freaks out and even more when Usopp tries to hit her with a huge hammer. She has pass out before the hammer hits her. Usopp quips that she is afraid of toy cockroaches and balloon hammer. Usopp rejoices over his win. Elsewhere, Zoro flies down from the attic as Ryuma looks down. Franky asks what did Ryuma just said. Brook says he just said the fight is over and it is the first time he has seen such a fight. Brook comments that it seems Ryuma wasn’t serious with him. Flashback to five minutes early, Ryuma laughs at Zoro’s words of wanting to take his katana. Ryuma gets excited over Zoro’s challenge. Zoro quickly attacks which surprises Brook and Franky. Ryuma uses a jab attack which creates a hole in the wall. Brook and Franky freaks out as Zoro looked a bit nervous. Yay, Usopp finally wins one with the help of talking to his alter-ego to make himself brave. Usopp does used his brains here and Perona is knock out by fear. Things aren’t good as Zoro is send flying away but then, Zoro haven’t put on his bandana yet.

D. Gray-man [c. 127] starts with a skull face dragging another skull face from other dead skull faces. The skull face tells the one being dragged that he isn’t his master’s skull. They stop at a huge arch with a sphere underneath. He asks if this is the one they are looking for. He tosses the one being dragged who started to flame up upon hitting the sphere. The one burning up tells skull face that it is useless, he can’t get it. Skull face notes that there is a magical barrier. The burning up skull face says his master is the Earl who is a great sorcerer so an innocence won’t be of any help, he knows who he is but it is too late for that place is being downloaded to a new ark. Skull face steps on the burning skull face and says he doesn’t need his help, who is he to teach him about sorcery. Back to the others, Rinali can’t remove the tentacles that bound her. She explained to Chaoji that there is an innocence that is reacting to him. They better do something else, it might strain Chaoji’s body. They can’t do anything with Tiki in front of them. Just then, Allen and Rabi come to help but they are still useless against powered up Tiki. When Tiki is about to attack Rinali, Allen stops him and provokes Tiki to go after him. Allen says that he doesn’t care if he can’t leave that place alive as long as he dies while fighting which is what he promised to Mana. Then, a symbol of a cross with a woman’s chest + wings in the middle appears. Seeing this, Allen quickly looks behind him. A huge light appears and it tosses Tiki and Allen apart from each other. Standing on a box with chains, Skull face catches Allen by his left foot. He says what is with this kid, I thought he grew up a bit yet he is still the same before, my stupid apprentice. Allen recognizes the anti-akuma weapon, Grave of Maria. Allen gloomily thought that means. Allen nervously greets his master. On Skull face’s head is Ticampi. Skull face’s face suddenly goes into his eye and reveals Cross. He tells Allen, why does Allen have that kind of ‘happy’ face, does Allen want him to drop him. Awesome entrance by Cross. ^_^ For a while at the start, I was confused as to who is that skull face. Well, they finally found Cross. Would Allen be bullied again? Hehe Cross seems to be stronger than Tiki so I guess they can deal with him and think of a way to get out of that ark.

Shinpachi just woke up from a nightmare that he has return back to the town when he is all old and everyone is gone in Gintama [c. 175-176]. After writing a huge SOS on the sand, he decided to become ‘free’ by jumping around naked until he chance upon Taizou who is also jumping around naked. They made lame excuses as to why they are doing that and to keep it a secret. While walking around, they find Gin trying to do a Kame-hame [Goku’s attack from DBZ]. It is now Gin’s turn to be embarrassed. They then finds Otae singing outloud B’Z’s Sun’s Komachi Angel. Otae is embarrassed. Then they find Kyuubei sitting behind a SOS on the sand. Kyuubei is drawing an ice cream cone when the cone got washed away by the water. Kyuubei tries to protect the rest of the drawing but it looked to the others as if she is protecting a drawing of poop. Kyuubei walks with them embarrassed. They find Kagura looking at the clouds and thought that it look like Laputa. She is now the one embarrassed. They finally find Katsura who is doing what Otae, Kagura and Kyuubei were caught doing as he uses his piss to write the SOS sign. After deciding on a leader, Taizou goes to find some fish as Otae cooks them. Kagura, Katsura and Gin are walking around the forest when they found a huge strange box. Katsura says it could be a trap. A smoke appears that Gin quickly pushes Kagura to safety. To Kagura’s shock, the smoke has made Gin and Katsura into old men.

Shinpachi and Kyuubei goes back to the cave where he found the skeleton as they wonder what they can use when nerd turtle appears. Shinpachi is about to beat it up for bringing them there. Nerd turtle tells him that this is dragon imperial city. Shinpachi doesn’t believe him. Otae comes by as Shinpachi shouts they are going to eat turtle soup. Kyuubei shows him a sign board address that they are indeed in dragon imperial city. Shinpachi freaks out and asks what is then about that skeleton. Nerd turtle says it is his wife as he puts a shell on it. He tells her that he knew of her perseverance and now she can rest. Everyone then is excited that place isn’t a deserted island and they can now go back to their normal lives. They ask Nerd turtle how to get back. Nerd turtle asks get back where for the place they want to go. At the beach, robotic turtles carrying those huge boxes started spraying smoke on the people. It has made them become old. Ana is reporting about it on the television and before she knew it, she has also became old. Nerd turtle tells them it is an invasion from dragon imperial city and he isn’t an enemy else why would he had brought them there which is the safest place to be in. Nerd turtle changed his glasses into sunglasses as if he is some secret agent. Shinpachi notices some turtle men army outside the cave. The leader shouts for nerd turtle to come out for they knew of his plans and they got him surrounded. Nerd turtle shouts for them to make a run for it. Nerd turtle tells them that it is the goal of imperial dragon city to make everyone old. They were again surrounded as they fight the turtles. Just when everyone is happy that Gin is there, the smiles on their faces froze when they saw Gin and Katsura are now old men. Nerd turtle asks if they touch any boxes. Gin and Katsura asks what is he talking about before long they are asking who each other are. In the sea shell palace, the leader of the army reports to his superior about the status of making people old. The boss who hides behind the blinds laughs that now he/she is the most beautiful in the whole world.

The author is really using the folktale to the fullest and tosses in a villain who is vain. He/She does sound like Snow White’s wicked stepmother, I’m the fairest of them all. If the author is basing on the folktale, I’m guessing it is the princess but then, this is Gintama, so it can be something else. It is amusing how Gin would look like when he is old. He is short old man.. osteoporosis? I thought he drank a lot of strawberry milk? Hehe Well, his hair is still white. For a while there, I also wondered if Shinsengumi will make a cameo here to give us an idea what they would look like if they are old but in this kind of strange story arc, I doubt.

Quote of the day:
Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing ~ Author Unknown.

Ouran High Host Club [Chapter 53]
Monday, August 13, 2007 @ 02:04 p.m.

[Mm..I feel indeed something is wrong with my computer. A cdrom can’t be read though it is plugged in. I rarely used it, it can’t be that it is already ‘dead’. It was read once since it returned since then, nothing. The date is altered. The processor seems to be lagging a bit though it isn’t suppose to be doing much. Anyway, as long as it turned on and I can use it, I will just have to bear with it. The techs can’t figure it out until it totally malfunctioned. ]

Kaoru’s words were repeated, I like you, I like you Haruhi, but Hikaru is still the most important. At Haruhi’s house, she takes the bag that Kaoru is carrying for her. Haruhi thanks Kaoru for driving her home but what is this day all about. She is referring to what he said about Hikaru being important. Kaoru embarrassingly laughs it off as he only realizes now that it was quite impolite. Haruhi says also about that kiss on the cheek. She sighs and says she she will let that slip. Kaoru sweatdrops and says no, no, no, treating a guy like that is quite... Kaoru then says that’s enough, he has already realized that he really doesn’t have any hope. Haruhi worriedly calls his name. Kaoru apologizes for the hassle and that he is now going to see Hikaru. Haruhi asks if it will go smoothly. Kaoru says he will try his best and see what happens. Kaoru sadly says that he has destroyed many things and that he thinks that things won’t be the same anymore. A scene of Kaoru kissing Haruhi and Hikaru sees it. Haruhi still worriedly looks at Kaoru and to her surprise, Kaoru bids her goodbye and see her tomorrow at school. Haruhi calls out to Kaoru and says even if she doesn’t know what is happening, but he should trust more in Hikaru. Kaoru looks at her a bit surprised. Haruhi continues, Kaoru is very kind but tend to be headstrong. If he wants to connect with other person’s heart, he would also decide on himself to do things alone on a whim but Hikaru should also have thought of Kaoru many times so he should believe in Hikaru. After Kaoru left in his car, Haruhi thought she really wanted to talk to Tamaki and Kyouya about Hikaru and Kaoru but currently, they are in France though this isn’t the time to talk about it. Haruhi looks up and wonders at this time, if it is Tamaki...[what would he do]. At that time, Tamaki is also thinking of Haruhi. He weeps while eating hot pot and wonders if Haruhi ate properly. Hot pot is really delicious, I would want Haruhi to taste it, too. Tamaki’s dad is happily encouraging him to eat more.

At Mori’s house, Kaoru finds Mori and Honey together as Honey worriedly calls out to Kaoru. Kaoru greets them a good evening and asks where is Hikaru. Honey says that they were separated in the amusement park and it seems that Hikaru came back earlier but he locked himself in the room ever since. Kaoru goes to the room and calls out to Hikaru. Hikaru is gloomily sitting on the floor with his back behind the door. Hikaru asks why did he come there for. Kaoru smiles and says hehe, to come and be in good terms with him. Hikaru turns around and shouts, stop joking around, what the heck is he saying at a time like this. To his shock, Kaoru kisses him on the cheek. Hikaru is puzzled as Kaoru says, that is his share to commemorate his lovelorn/being jilted. Hikaru is shock by this. Sitting down, Kaoru says that it has failed between him and Haruhi, so Hikaru should now do his best. Hikaru says what is he saying, saying it so light-heartedly. He then realize something as Kaoru sadly smiles at him. Hikaru asks if it is all a game to Kaoru, so that he won’t mind Kaoru chasing after Haruhi, that Kaoru acted in that manner..at the amusement park. Kaoru seems to want to object but Hikaru is already grabbing Kaoru’s scarf. Hikaru angrily shouts, quit joking around, does he think that doing such a thing would make him happy, what does he think Haruhi is, he force himself to happily use Haruhi by bringing her back and forth, isn’t he treating Haruhi casually. Kaoru looks a bit surprised and looks sideways. He tell Hikaru yes, that is so, he cannot be like Hikaru to be jealous of Tamaki in account of Haruhi. Treating Hikaru like this, today at the amusement park, even if he stands in front of Hikaru, he doesn’t feel a bit regretful. He likes Haruhi for she is the first girl to ever come close to them but that doesn’t mean having a strong feeling of wanting to monopolize her. Hikaru confesses that seeing Tamaki close with Haruhi vexes him. Kaoru says yes. Hikaru says seeing Kaoru with Haruhi together makes him angry at Kaoru. Kaoru smiling says yes. He hugs Hikaru and says, do your best, Hikaru, I will be rooting for you. Even if I feel that from this time on, things won’t be the same as before, even so, I will still cheer for you.

Kaoru smiles as he apologizes to Mori and Honey for the trouble. Honey says yes but Kaoru.. Kaoru makes Hikaru bow down and apologize, too. Hikaru apologizes. Smiling, Kaoru holds out his hand to Hikaru and says let’s go home. While walking, Kaoru tells Hikaru that it has been a long time since they have taken a bath together, so upon arriving home, lets take a bath together, then wear the same set of pajamas and sleep together and then, from tomorrow, they are going to have separate bedrooms. This surprises Hikaru and asks what did Kaoru just said. Kaoru says he is really looking forward to have his own room and then the setting in the club on how to entertaining guests have to be cancelled/changed [their act] though he would have to consult Kyouya first, and then. Hikaru shouts Kaoru’s name to protest. Kaoru tells Hikaru that this is a good opportunity for he feels that if there is an important thing, it isn’t okay not to do this. In their world, there would be more wider range of people who would separate them so they should be able to walk independently from each other. Hikaru can only say Kaoru’s name for he knew what Hikaru said is true. Kaoru laughs and says that if Hikaru’s love life collapses, he can go to him and it will be very hard for Hikaru. Kaoru teases him, will Haruhi ever see Hikaru apart from being a friend? Even if there is no romantic feelings, no matter how he look at it, Haruhi has a bias/tendency to be with Tamaki. Hikaru is embarrassed and depressed. He tells Kaoru isn’t that too much, saying it that way, even if she has a bias towards Tamaki, he [Hikaru] is still a friend. Kaoru says not so, not so, for Hikaru, it is a must to have a severe/strict analysis. Kaoru smiles as he leaves saying that he won’t disturb them anymore, good luck and do your best. Hikaru looks a bit disturbed. Back at Mori’s house, Honey sadly says Kaoru must be thinking of himself as a hindrance to Hikaru’s independence, what should he do to tell Kaoru that it isn’t so. Mori says what will Hikaru do. Honey is surprised as Mori tells him even if it is so, he is still a brother, Hikaru is Kaoru’s brother. That night in the Hitachiin estate, while Kaoru is sound asleep, Hikaru is awake, thinking the whole night.

The next day, Kaoru wakes up and finds Hikaru missing from his bed. He goes to the bathroom and finds Hikaru all dressed up in his school uniform with a newly dyed hair. Hikaru greets him a good morning as it is now Kaoru’s turn to be puzzled. Hikaru smiles and says he has decided it on his own early this morning to dye his hair. It is a deep ash color. Kaoru asks why. Hikaru says if one decides to go his separate way, that will be easy to do and just change the appearance just like this. If it is done earlier, it would have been better so that they would be different from each other but the fact is they cannot be just separated by other people. So simply knowing this, one can do anything one wants. If Kaoru wants, he can have his own room and they can even separate in entertaining guests. Hikaru shouts but, even if it happens, the fact still remains that they are twins and this won’t change. Kaoru is a bit surprised by this. Hikaru tells him that he thought about this the whole night that he remembers what Tamaki said to them before so he thought about it and feels that Kaoru is wrong. The truth is that they cannot totally go in that direction, if they continue as to what Kaoru had said in order to survive, casting aside Haruhi, no one would recognize him anymore. But for Kaoru to kill his feelings, to force themselves to live separately, is that called independence? Hikaru holds Kaoru’s hands and tells him that they are twins, isn’t this a lucky individuality/personality? A flashback of Tamaki telling them, normal? don’t say such nonsense, this is individuality/personality. [I think I translated it as their nature before ^^;] Hikaru tells Kaoru that if normal people would have to face the future alone, the two of them will be together. This isn’t for survival, this is to influence as well as to provoke/stimulate each other along the way. Hikaru happily tells Kaoru not to forget that only they can do that, they will surely have a interesting superior future beyond normal waiting for them. Hikaru says if from now on, they can still be together for if it isn’t like that, what would be the meaning for them to be born as twins? Kaoru broke into tears as Hikaru comforts him.

While the bell to go to class is ringing, Kaoru runs to Honey’s classroom 3-A. Breathing hard, Kaoru tells Honey that he is wrong. He happily tells Honey that he didn’t believe in Hikaru but it seems that Hikaru is more passionate than he is. Even if he has destroyed a lot of things, but the truth is nothing has been destroyed at all. Kaoru happily exclaims so, from then on, they will still be together. Honey is in tears as he hugs Kaoru and says, that is great. Hikaru appears on the door and shouts, ah, wait, Honey-sempai, why are you hugging Kaoru, how cunning. Honey laughs and says that he likes Kaoru the most. Kaoru says he also likes Honey the most. Hikaru hugs Kaoru from behind and says I also hugged and I’m the one who like Kaoru the most. Mori looks out the window and tells the trio that it is Haruhi. Haruhi is walking sadly as she wonders if the two have made up already for she has made sweet potato tempura today. The twins open the window and call out to her, greeting her a good morning. Haruhi happily looks up and greets them back. The one who isn’t me is Hikaru. The one who isn’t Hikaru is me. Our independence is a different kind of existence and there is a very strong restraint for this to happen. And when both of them each has an important thing, and until the time that they both of them have consciousness of each other’s difference on things, they will still continue to influence each other as they grow up. Being like this, one day, like the twins that they are, and even apart, they will bloom into equally beautiful flowers. Honey and Mori happily looks at the trio. Hikaru asks what is inside the bento box. Haruhi says it is sweet potato tempura. Kaoru laughs, still sweet potatoes. Around this time, Kyouya is in Nice airport. He gloomily sighs and says that’s enough, maybe the real goal is in Paris. He didn’t find Tamaki’s mother in French Riviera. The three bodyguards sweatdrop that Kyouya is bragging of his power again. Would he also hustles/move about in Paris, too? A note says that the other half of the trip is spent on going all over Paris.

The twins are alright again though it does seem that Kaoru has given up on Haruhi. So, it will be Tamaki vs Hikaru. Apparently, it is obvious to them as to how Haruhi treats Tamaki. Hikaru has to indeed work doubly hard. I wonder what the other two’s reaction when they see how the twins changed. What would be their new ‘role’ in the club in entertaining the guests? What would be Kyouya’s souvenirs for them? I’m assuming that by next chapter he would have returned. I wonder if the others will know that Tamaki didn’t went to France. I somewhat doubt that Kyouya will find Tamaki’s mother. It is interesting that Haruhi plans to consult Tamaki and Kyouya about the twins’ problem rather than Mori and Honey. Hikaru’s little speech on being twins is really nice. Interestingly, Tamaki helped them indirectly. Well, things are back to normal..well, more or less. ^_^

Quote of the day:
Words are just words and without heart they have no meaning. ~ Chinese proverb

The One [Chapter 32]
Wednesday, August 11, 2007 @ 10:31 p.m.

[I’m back though I don’t know it will be just for a short time or not. You see, the computer wasn’t fixed. The story goes, on Monday, bro send it to the shop and it is working! Not again?! The owner says, maybe I should had it bless and moved it to a different place. ^^;; By Wednesday, my bro brought it back. He says maybe the problem is with my place. I opened it and it won’t turn on. We plugged it on all the outlets in the house and still won’t turn on. Back to the shop and it is working again. I’m resigned to the fact that maybe there is something wrong with it in my house. My bro checked it in his house and it won’t turn on, too. A sigh of relief. In the morning, he checked it, it is working. He brought it back to the shop and it happened at the tech. He claims it is a wire that isn’t connected. Bro reasoned why since before it is working even if that wire isn’t connected. Today, bro brought it back. I turned it on and nothing. Since it will be with me until my bro comes back, I decided to wait every half an hour and try to turn it on, just like before it went to technicians. After the first hour of trying to turn it on every half an hour, it finally turned on! ^_^ So, I don’t have a computer for the whole week and nothing is fixed. I’m also a bit irritated that the tech messed up with my computer – installed some stuff like music and even unplugged my cdrom. My bro plans to just change the power supply and maybe it is the problem. So, if I’m not online on Monday or for a long time, it is a computer problem again..or something happened that is beyond my control. Okay, I had this unfinished chapter of The One before which I finished now so I’ll post this up. At this rate, I might not get anything done. My plans are that if I can’t get summarize Ouran and VK by this week, I might just merge it with the upcoming chapters. It is about time for ‘cut off month’. Papillon is a bit depressing as I’m disappointed with Kyuu. VB Rose is still in the past regarding Yukari and Mitsuya. From Penguin Revolution raws, I'm getting confused with the story. The latest chapter of The One is really good with a great cliffhanger. So much for my plan to get it updated by this month. And, I’m still updating with the other shounen series. Even if others might not be happy, I’m happy that there is no Jump this week. ^^; I can still catch up. ^_^]

Time flies so fast and in a wink of an eye, a year has already gone. I had finally finished high school. In the past year, all I remember is just being engrossed with work and going to school with Xiao Qui. The people and things, if you ask me, all seem to be vague to me. The only thing that I can clearly remember is that I have five opportunity to be in the cover of W magazine. They say that I have created a record for the next generation of new models by herself. There are even people who say that she is the most sought-after woman among men. Lou Shang rejects the pictures taken of Lele saying it is not interesting while another is old fashioned, looking at them makes him irritated. Glasses guy assistant says didn’t Lou Shang said that while Lele is on the ‘road’ [being famous], they should heavily use her for currently, everyone is talking about her and there is no one who doesn’t know the famous model Lele. Lou Shang gets angry as he starts throwing the pictures to his assistant. He complains for how long has he been working for him and didn’t learn anything. As a professional, one should be better than the competition, know the other person, and find something to become different and new. If others can easily see the similarities, then they could have been sued by the readers and their magazine would be finished. The assistant apologizes for it. Someone then asks so what is his conclusion. Lou Shang says a ‘losing’ new model can easily be replaced by another, Lele will soon be finished. That someone turned out to be Fei Hong who hits him. She shouts she has seen his hairstyle for the nth year and she still things it is so greasy, why don’t he change it. Lou Shang holds on to Fei Hong’s leg. With hearts, he says don’t be like that, darling. Fei Hong tells him to go away. The assistant sweatdrops over the scene. Lou Shang then hugs Fei Hong who tells him to leave but doesn’t resist. And this has become little aunt and uncle Lou Shang’s relationship. In my heart, I wish them happiness but I can’t bring myself to say it out loud.

At Fei Hong’s office, she gives Lele her schedule for the month – Taiwan fashion show for Gucci, BCBG, etc, Lele has been chosen. She also tells Lele that New York’s DGM modeling company’s manager will be coming there to watch the fashion so she should show off herself. In her apartment, Lele is taking a bath while Xiao Qui is washing Lele’s hair. Xiao Qui comments that Lele’s hair has grown long and that since she know Lele up to the present, Lele haven’t let her hair grow long. Lele says if she wants to make it truly long, she needs around half a year. Xiao Qui suddenly looks sad and says, too bad I won’t be able to see you with long flowing hair. Xiao Qui tells her to remember to give her a picture. Lele asks if the paperwork are finished. Xiao Qui says yes, she will be going next month. Xiao Qui will be going to Japan to study make-up styling. Xiao Qui asks Lele to make up with her aunt since if she is gone, Lele will be very lonely. Lele says she cannot be with her aunt. Our work has been a lot that they weren’t able to interact again as relatives. My aunt always shows up and never stop checking up on what she is doing. She claims it is just to inspect her ‘asset’. When I get sick, she will become impatient and says why aren’t you taking care of yourself, do you know how much hassle a day’s rest can bring. But, when she thought I am sleeping, she will secretly hold my hands and accompany me. I wouldn’t dare open my eyes because I know she is crying for me, just like Grandma. At those times, I don’t hate her but I still have no way of acting like a spoiled child with her [like before].

In New York, Eros is shouting at some models/staff – the accessories is wrong, it should be white shoes, how many times do I have to tell you, the scarf isn’t worn that way, doesn’t [she] understand him. A light haired guy smiles and says no wonder it is ‘bro’, you are still great, your brain is like a computer. He tells Eros that he can’t remember all the details of what accessories models should wear for certain styles and what color of shoes, etc, so he can’t work as a fashion director. His name is Nick Douglas. Eros asks, does a rich son need to work, why do you come here? Nick laughs and says don’t say that, it is my father has money, it isn’t my fault. Eros says I have heard that your father bought DGM as your 18th birthday gift, congratulations, for becoming the youngest manager of a modeling company. Nick says if you let me become your ‘younger brother’ then I will let you choose among the models. Eros says no thanks, I’m not interested. Angus comes from behind Eros and removes Nick’s elbow on Ero’s shoulder. Angus asks you, lewd doll, why are you here. Nick exclaims in surprise that Angus is there. Nick happily says of course to see ‘bro’. Angus jumps on to Eros and clings like a panda on Eros. Angus angrily shouts, he is my brother, not yours. Nick laughs his head off. Eros angrily punches Angus away, shouting, go there. Nick whispers to Eros, don’t you think that your younger brother is a bit not normal. Eros says even aliens know that he isn’t normal. Nick nervously says that Angus possessiveness is quite strong that he is going to leave now before he gets killed. Angus is already in fury, holding a knife. Nick waves goodbye. Nick says he is going to Taiwan to find his first Asian model so when he return, he is going to tell him about his ‘battle’. Eros is surprised to hear Taiwan. He wonders what had happened to that girl [Lele].

At Lou Shang’s office, Lele comes in with longer wavy hair. They asks what happened to her hair. Lele apologizes for not informing them ahead about her want to ‘change her image’ for she is sick of the ‘androgynous’ look. She says she hopes there won’t be a problem with the photo shoot. Lou Shang approves of it saying she did well. The assistant is shock and says Lele is really a girl. Lele takes her photo shoot as she thought at 18, she wants to really become a model. Some girls are talking about Lele’s new poster. A girl asking if it is really Lele. The other says it is true for if she didn’t mention it, she wouldn’t have recognize it, she has really changed. Soon, Nick has arrived in Taiwan. A butler/servant asks Nick that he has taken care of Nick’s luggage, would there be anything he need. Nick says he wants to watch the television and will he [butler] stay to interpret it for him. On the television is a female reporter interviewing Lele. The reporter introduces Lele as the currently famous model. She asks Lele that currently there are some ‘anti-supermodel’ because they say that models are just ‘vain’ and a ‘commodity’, what does she think of this. Lele says she feels it is strange, everyone likes beautiful things so why buying beautiful shoes and clothes be called vanity. She likes to look at famous painting and listen to music doesn’t that mean she is not a commodity. To the reporter’s shock, Lele angrily says about those ‘anti-super model’ don’t they have any brains, don’t they like beautiful things, even outsiders knows what is beautiful. Nick then tries to suppress his laughter. Lele points out to the audience/camera and says I really hate those hypocrites. Nick laughs and says, she is really something.

It is amusing to see Lele quite mature now. Her spunkiness seems to have reappeared by the way she answered the interview. She has re-invented herself with her new hairdo. Fate is moving again to get the two together again. ^_^ Fun part is starting again. It is quite obvious whom Nick is going to chose and boy, did Lele make an impact. Hehe On her private life, I guess she still can’t get close with her aunt though it does seem that she has pretty much has forgiven her aunt. She knew that her aunt is really concerned about her and is just pretending to be strict and everything. Her aunt is pretty much a contradiction – what she says doesn’t really match with her actions like how she deals with Lele and Lou Shang.

Quote of the day:
Our life is uncertain, our path is unclear, yet we have no cause to falter or fear if plans that we make our dreams to fulfill are born out of love for God and His will. ~ D. De Haan from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Back!
Saturday, August 4, 2007 @ 06:23 p.m.

[Hiyo! Hehe, I am being ‘teased’...It is about a week when I had sent the computer to be fixed and when it got there, it is working fine even after a few days of observation. ^^;; I somewhat knew it will do that, I even re-checked it twice before sending it to the repair shop and it won’t turn on! The technician said he can’t fix something unless it goes wrong while there. Rather than wait for it to do so, we decided to take it back home. He said the motherboard might die soon since it isn’t the symptom of a defective power supply. Shrug, well, I can’t do anything until it goes ‘dead’ again. Meanwhile, I spend the time cleaning my room and playing PS2 – FF12. For this entry, I will talk about my trip. I have to update myself on scanlations and stuff. ]

My mom got a free trip to HK courtesy of the mileage she used on the credit card. Of course, I tag along. =P We wondered if it is more expensive that way since it is ‘low season’ in our country yet it is ‘high season’ in HK since it is school break. It is my first time going there around this time. I booked a hostel via internet. We got the cheapest one at HK$ 280 while the others is HK$ 350. So, we were driven by my brother to the airport at 4am. We booked my ticket through the internet and we were surprise to learn that the payment doesn’t include our country’s travel tax. Good thing that my mother brought some excess local money. Everything else went smoothly. I’m amused that they changed the airport lounge now unlike before it is just a small room with no comfort room. Now, it is circular with all the other gates and shops + comfort room in the middle. Airplane snack is corned beef sandwich. It is only now I realized that I can watch tv on Cathay Pacific when a seatmate is watching. ^^;; before I only listen to music. Above HK skies, it is quite cloudy that it looked like slightly over whipped cream and a nice grayish smog aka air pollution. On the way out, we had our HK$ 1,000 changed so that we have small bills. The teller is a bit sarcastic why do we have to changed it there and not locally. It turned out that they are paranoid over large bills because there are fakes especially from a certain year.

We bought a two-way bus ticket. We used to buy only one way but thanks to an uncle’s tip, it is cheaper two-way. First booboo, we didn’t ring the bell that we are getting off at a certain bus stop since the bus won’t stop on bus stops. ^^; So, we went pass a bus stop and have to walk back, carrying our luggage in such a hot humid weather. Nice experience. Hehe, to my shock on the way back, there is an overpass = stairs. I have to haul the luggage which isn’t too heavy up. I was laughing at myself and look down to my mom when I saw this guy. I somewhat felt vibes that this guy want to help even if I’m pretty much near the top of the stairs. Unfortunately, that is what he just did, kept on looking. ^^;; Yeah, he must be laughing his head off inside. I noticed that these people are not keen on helping others most of the time. For example, when lost which we do lots of time thanks to my misreading the map, we ask someone where this place is on the road. After helping, they would walk farther away from you even if you are going to the same way. Weird. It happened twice. Afraid of stalking? Twice, it is two women. Also, don’t ever ask directions from cleaning people in MTR or in the airport. They would snub you or much worse, stare at you. I learned that one last trip. Anyway, finally got to find the hostel. There is a Japanese lady customer before us so I had a false impression that the place they will give us is good, also from the internet, the pictures of the room looks okay. A younger lady says that currently the customer haven’t vacated the room so we should eat lunch first then come back around 1pm.

After a change of clothes, we ate lunch and bought some water bottles. When we returned, there is the older lady there, probably the owner. She begins to blah about it is peak season and she made the wrong price for us but she will accommodate us by telling us to pretend to be her relatives and live at an apartment which only allows monthly stays. We walked to that place while the person accompanying us is quite impatient. Arriving there, it is quite strict that the guard asked for our identification cards/passport. I’m amused over it since he can’t quite comprehend English that he didn’t know how to read our names. He even asked what are our Chinese names. My mom offered to write our Chinese names if he want that. After a slight interrogation, we head up to our room. It is a room that is subdivided into smaller rooms. Since our luck is overflowing, there is a toilet problem in that building. ^^; I did noticed the bulletin below saying do not flush. Yeah, right, as if anyone would do that – they even closed the water so that you can’t flush. We just put water in the tank and flush it anyway. The room is okay though I can’t shake of the feeling as if it is like a small prison. ^^;; I guess having walls and floor as tiles doesn’t give a homely feeling. I can even feel the springs on the mattress. I can’t complain much since for that wrong price, the owner just tossed us to a lower standard room. The person who accompanied us didn’t even tell us that the door security lock number is on the key. I only realized it on the third day. ^^;;

After having a short nap, we went to Sheung Wan in Bonham Stand West to buy Korean ginseng. It used to be filled with Chinese medicine but when we arrived there, there is nothing much unlike before. It is mostly dried seafood. I think they moved near the MTR for there are lots in Des Voeus Road. Then, thinking it is a short walk, we walk through Hollywood Road to Central. Wrong decision, it is quite a long walk and the weather is hot. Anyway, got to see some nice antiques. I found the moon shaped one with horses running through it really nice. Then, pass through a market where I saw a really fat cat. I was going to tell it to mom when people started screaming. A rat fell down and is being chased by the cat. In Central, we walked through the street markets, Li Yuen St then to the other shops, Bossini and Espirit. Most shops are on sale since it is Summer sale season. We can buy clothes that we can wear in our country. Around 8pm, most branded stores have already closed. I went to HMV but the Japanese cds lately are bundled with DVD for their music videos. I decided not to buy, too expensive. Since most shops are closed already, we decided to call it a day.

The next day, we went to Tsim Sha Tsui. With my crappy directions, we went the opposite way of suppose to be the way to Harbor city. We ended up in Chatham Road where there are some fur coats being sold. They look pretty and for the rich. We passed through Mody Road where there are a bit of Chinese stores. I thought that if Causeway Bay is mostly Japanese stores, here, it is Chinese. Then, in Hankow Road, we found Espirit Outlet where we bought some clothes and stuff. We walked in a ‘subway’ what they call for the underpass and through this mall. I bought some ice cream, Italian sounding but pretty yummy – not to sweet yet creamy. Then, finally we were in Harbor City and shop. Then, while on our way back to MTR, to my shock, we reached Jordan @_@;; That is one stop of MTR. We walked through Bowring Street and there is a street market but the type nothing much to buy. From there, we rode the MTR to Prince Edward. Another minor ‘getting lost’ and found Fa Yuen Street. Lots to buy there as there are outlet [for export/surplus clothes] store here. We didn’t finish every store there since it is already 6pm and I want to go to Sino Center already before it closed. After another long walk to Mongkok, we are there. I bought some Skip Beat! manga and glance around. I saw two titles that I have seen in BW forum that I might check out. At around Tung Choi Street, I think, I went to the other anime shops there but didn’t see anything I want specifically, Gintama stuff. In Animate, there is small box figurines of Gintama for HK$ 40 but I don’t intend on buying randomly hoping it is Gin. Everything there is times 6 in our currency. Then, we went to Wanko. The salesladies there are quite good, they match everything you want to buy that you end up buying lots. After that we went back to the hostel.

That night is quite interesting. Since we still didn’t know the security code, we wait for someone to open the door. Someone did but we got too obvious, looking at him that he called the guard inside. Well, who wouldn’t be at around 1130pm. The guard asked who we were. What? You forgot already when we just arrived yesterday?! I just showed him the key we had and off we go. It is then I realize that code is on the key. I shouldn’t have said this observation about the guy calling the guard to my mom that she got paranoid that night. Then, at around 12am, some guys are knocking on the door wanting to get in saying something about a modem. Opps, I had removed the plug and forgot to put it back on when I was charging my mobile phone. I plugged it on and told mom to tell them it is okay already. They don’t believe it and won’t go back to their room to even check it. They kept on insisting in coming in. One is talking in Chinese and one in English. The Chinese even threaten to call the police. They are both men. Since it is the middle of the night, two guys kept on insisting on coming in your room even if you had already told them you plugged it on already. Won’t you be scared? Actually, I’m unusually calm since I’m thinking the guard is strict below. Well, with my kind of mentality, if these are bad guys, I’ll be dead meat. ^^; Thanks to my uncle’s HK mobile phone, we called the owner and after some talking, we finally let them in. They got lectured by my mom. One is a Western guy with tattoos while the other is a young Chinese man. Only the Western guy came in to check. He just touched the modem and left. If I recall, it is only the Western guy who apologized. Anyway, that ends the eventful evening and seals the ‘I won’t stay in this hostel nor recommend it to others’.

On the third day, I went to the anime con in Hong Kong. The sole reason of coming here at this time. It is basically for curiosity’s sake, is it the same as here. It is around noon when we went there via MTR to Wan Chai. I just followed some youngsters to the right exit since they seemed like anime fans and one of them is carrying a costume. Unfortunately, they stayed at the station waiting for other friends so we just went up ahead. It is an overpass straight to the Convention so we just followed the youngsters. On the site, it turned out most of them have tickets so we don’t have to line up. Then, we trek to hall 1. The place is huge obviously bigger than the ones here. The booths with most lines are the ones for publishers for manga, Jonesky [HK] and Tongli [Taiwan], mostly shoujo. There is also Lego. I didn’t wait in line since we still have to go to Causeway. It took around 2 hours to finish one round of the whole place. There are lots of displays – figurines and Gundam modeling contest which are pretty cool and creative. Since I doubt I will buy anything anime related later on, I decided to buy a souvenir for Asher here. Of all the booths, there is one, where there are lots of people selling Japanese anime merchandise. There is a two layer of people in it. I got in, waited my turn in the pencil board area. There is this guy who is out of line since I am looking at the pencil board from back to front when he suddenly came and pushes the pencil boards from front to back. He is even irked at me when I should be the one getting irritated. I let him be the one flipping those board and just pick the ones I want. I got Gintama for mine and Prince of Tennis for Asher. I paid and left. There are a few cosplayers. The ones that I really remember are these two friends who look really pretty in their Chobits costumes – they made it elegant instead of cute-looking. There aren’t that many, maybe because the finals isn’t on that day. I noticed a lot are just loitering around the place, either reading the manga they bought or playing PSP or DS. Since we are pressed for time, I have to leave and head for some more shopping in Causeway Bay.

We basically bought the things for souvenirs. We learned that Mitsukoshi has already closed. Of all the three Jap department stores that used to be there, Daimaru, Mitsukoshi and Sogo, only Sogo remains today. To show how ‘strong’ it is, there seemed to be fire or smoke there that night but people aren’t coming out and some people are even going in. I went to the top floor bookstore, Asahiya, iirc. Just bought a Rozen Maiden artbook. Then, I forced myself to walk all the way to Windsor House since there is a Jap anime store there. I ended up trying my luck in a toy vending machine for Gintama stuff. It is a cellphone strap since the one I had before, Gin of Bleach got lost while in Mongkok. I want a replacement and each toy here costs HK$ 10. I tried three times since it is cheaper than the small one before. I didn’t get Gin =( though I got Katsura with Elizabeth, Okita and Sadaharu. Then, after a light dinner, we finally head back to our room. The next day, we packed and walk around a bit for last minute shopping. We rode the bus back to the airport. Since we didn’t get to eat any dimsum while in HK, basically we ate at Maxim before but it is in the building of Mitsukoshi. A lady said that it is torn down and a new building is built on it. ^^; We tried the Chinese restaurant at the airport and it is a rip-off. The peanuts and sauce has a fee! The waiter there kept on insisting to these Japanese women to buy their XO sauce. The women just laugh it off. Anyway, the taste is okay basically like Gloria Maris, a local Chinese restaurant here..the Jasmin tea is even the same. Heck, it is free in our place! Finally, we head home. And on Monday, the computer isn’t working. ^^; Anyway, the trip is fun though maybe we can scrap going to Central next time around. Hopefully next time, I don’t keep on getting lost since we are wasting energy. Actually, I surprise myself that I was able to walk for that long period of time.

Thought of the day:
A grumbling mood of discontent gives way to thankfulness when we consider all God's gifts and all that we possess. ~ Sper of Our Daily Bread.

Venus Capriccio [Chapter 1] + Synopsis of Latest Ouran & Vampire Knight
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 @ 02:43 p.m.

[I found this series the other day in BW and currently, there are only four chapters {Chinese scans} available. In Japan, two volumes are out already. I posted the cover pictures below. The story is about boyish Takami and a effeminate Akira who are childhood friends. Takami treats Akira as a sibling while Akira likes Takami as a girl. =P The art and story is okay as it is your basic shoujo manga in a school setting. I kind of think it is like what if it is Ageha and Ryuu from VB Rose are the couple since the girl is older than the boy by three years. Hehe The series is by Mai Nishikata. She has written Sweet Black though I haven’t read that series. This series runs in the magazine Hana no Yume. While surfing a bit to know their names in English, I found that Manga Abyss plans to scanlate it so I will use the names they used in their summary. This is the last entry for this week as I will be going to HK tomorrow morning. I will hopefully be back online by Monday ^_^ Ja!]

In a café, a tomboyish girl wearing jeans and a jacket is eating cakes while her boyfriend complains about her. He says that that she isn’t like a girl at all. On their first date, she ate and drank a lot, why can’t she be a bit more cute. Her face is cute, she is tall and has a body like a model’s so he decided to date her but it seems that he is mistaken about her. Just when the girl is about to eat another mouthful, her boyfriend says that they should split up. In Sasaki residence, a loud running sound can be heard. She goes to a room where there is a piano and shouts, Akira. A pretty good looking boy looks up from the piano score he has been reading. Akira asks, Takami, didn’t you had a date? Takami angrily says don’t mention it. She whines that guy told her not to eat and drink too much when she only ate three slices of cake and two glasses of cola. She asks him to play some lively music on the piano. Akira opens up his grand piano and starts playing. While Akira is playing, Takami describes Akira as having golden hair, white skin, clear like blue water eyes, playing the piano with his slender hand, everyday she sees him, he becomes more beautiful, if she is him, she won’t be that graceful. Takami asks what music is that. Akira says it is something he heard on the broadcast. Takami laughs that Akira has changed the tune. Akira says but it still sounds good, right. Takami says yes.

She introduces herself as Takami Habara, 17 years old. Seven years ago, in her house, she tends to play rough and is boyish because she has four brothers that her mother is aghast by her behavior. A scene of her mother telling the father that Takami will become a boy at this rate. Since her mother cannot stand it, she decided to enroll her to a piano school, hoping that she will become more of a girl. And that is how she got in Aoyama piano school and this is where she met Akira. Akira is grade two while she is grade four. Takami blushed as she saw him, thinking he is like a doll with blue eyes. A teacher tells Akira that from that day on, he will be classmates with Takami. It is then Takami realized that he is a boy. Takami thought that he is pale white, very pretty, and can play piano well even with one hand, yet he is a nice boy. Since Takami can’t practice well, she asks Akira to teach her. One time, some boys told Akira that if he is a boy, so he should play videogames, and quit playing piano. Akira says he doesn’t want to go with them. One of the boy kept on patting Akira teasing him that he is a girl and a coward. Takami saved him by punching the boys away calling them stupid. Takami thought that even so, there are days when Akira is being bullied. She asks if Akira is okay. Akira smiles and says he is okay. He thanks her. Takami messes his hair saying that if he is okay that is fine. Takami exclaims that he is so cute. So, she treats Akira as one who loves a younger sister.

Back to present, Akira asks if she got dumped. Takami laments that it is true, and if she grew up to be like Akira, she wouldn’t have been told that she isn’t like a girl. Akira says that Takami’s problem isn’t her physical appearance but more on she know how to look at guys [if they are okay]. Takami exclaims but the guy greeted her good morning. Akira says it isn’t the same. [Meaning she can’t judge a guy is nice just because he greets her] Before leaving, Takami tells Akira if he is free on Sunday, would he accompany her while she indulge on cakes. Akira says he will go. On Sunday, in Sunrise café, Takami is filling her mouth with cakes. She says she didn’t know that Akira knows of a good café. Akira smiles at her. Takami asks why is he smiling. He sips his tea and says because she likes the taste. She asks if he isn’t going to eat. Akira says he doesn’t like to eat too sweet food. Takami angrily shouts, quit acting cool and try some. She shove some on Akira’s mouth that his mouth has a bit of icing. Takami laughs at him. Akira wipes his mouth and says that it seems that Takami has become lively again. Takami realizes this and thanks him. Takami says she will forget about that stupid guy. Akira says there is some icing on her face. Takami asks where it is. To Takami’s surprise, Akira takes it with his finger and eats it. He says it isn’t that sweet anymore, and it is quite delicious. Takami blushes as Akira asks what is it. Takami says it is nothing. Takami thinks that surprised her and says Akira is becoming more beautiful like a princess. Akira says that she is more beautiful. This made Takami blush even more as she shouts to quit joking and he is really like a princess.

Akira then remembers something and gives her a business card. Takami looks at it and it is Blue Club’s. Akira tells her it is his mother’s friend’s store and next Sunday, there will be a jazz show and he will be playing piano there. Takami is excited that Akira plays piano at a club. Akira says he has been playing there for quite some time. Takami says it is the first time she has heard of it. He says that before it is so late so he can’t invite Takami to the club and he has been keeping it a secret for so long. Takami asks is it really okay for a junior high student to be playing piano outside. Akira says of course, it is okay. Akira says he would want to invite Takami to watch him play. Takami is shock by this for it is a jazz club and she doesn’t usually go to the places where adults go. Akira says if she doesn’t reject, he would want her to dress up for that day. Takami blushing from Akira’s prettiness, agrees to go. Akira says really, thanks. At home, she thought that it has been such a long time since she went to concerts so she doesn’t have any skirt/dress, what should she do, she has nothing to wear to the club. Her mother welcomes her home and asks if the sweets were good. Takami says they were and asks if her mother has a long skirt. Her mother becomes excited and asks if Takami is going to wear a skirt. Takami tells her that Akira has invited her to a club where he will play piano. Her mother is so excited for it will be the second time she will wear a dress apart from Hina matsuri/Girl’s day. Her mother quickly goes to think of what Takami wear – a designer outfit, would an expensive one be okay. Takami sweatdrops and says she will leave it to her mother.

After a week, Takami is walking down the street with people looking at her. She wonders why they are looking at her for she doesn’t look good in such outfit. She is wearing a short dress and high heels. She curses that she has to wear uncomfortable high heels and it is cold even though she does have a stole. She wonders what Akira will wear, would it be a suit [school uniform] like when he was grade two. Takami happily thought that Akira is really cute. She then remembers something and starts running. At Club Blue, she enters and notice that it isn’t that noisy. It is already 8pm and there are a lot of adults. Someone asks who is the one playing the piano. Someone answered that it is the friend of the bar owner’s son. Another asks how old is he since he looks young. Someone answered he is 14 years old. They can’t believe it for it isn’t like the type of music that a 14 year old can play. Takami watches Akira play and thought that since it is a bar, it doesn’t seem like it is Akira [she knows] who is playing. After Akira played, He Nei [the owner of the bar and I used the Chinese name since I can’t find the romanji of the other half of the name ^^;] introduced him to the audience as they applause. Takami says that aside from her, it seems his fans has grew. Akira notices her. Akira tells the owner that his friend came so can he introduce her. The owner asks if it is a girl. Akira says she is and he couldn’t lay his hands on her. Akira calls Takami to go in front. Takami hesitates so Akira goes behind her and while touching her back, tells her to come with him. Takami feels strange about it. He introduces her to the others as Takami Habara whom he used to play piano with. The owner asks for how long have they been studying together. Akira says it is around 7 years already. Takami then nervously introduces herself, wondering how things turned out that way.

The owner asks if Takami can also play there. Takami says she isn’t as good as Akira. Akira calls out the owner’s name. He Nei apologizes for putting Takami on a spot. Takami gives Akira a small bouquet and says she should have prepared earlier since she only remembered to buy it on the way there. Akira asks if it is for him. Takami says yes. Akira accepts and looks at the lilies as he thanks her. Takami is happy, thinking that Akira is cute and he now looks like a normal boy. Someone says, that person is beautiful. Takami thought is she thinking too much to it, that is ordinary Akira. Takami laughs and says that the girls are saying he is pretty. Akira says what is she saying. To Takami’s surprise, Akira carries her and shouts, everyone, she will be my future bride. Everyone thought that it is really cute. Takami shouts what is he doing. He Nei laments that he doesn’t have a girlfriend. People are saying they are a good match and Akira has found a beautiful girl. Embarrassed, Takami shouts that he put her down. Akira says see, didn’t I say, you are beautiful. Takami is surprised by this as she shouts again to put her down. Akira says yes, yes. She remembers Akira asking her to dress up, could it be he...it is all for her?

At 2-B section, a girl calls out to Takami saying that there is a good looking guy looking for her outside the school gate. She asks Takami who it is. Takami says she doesn’t know of any good looking guy. The girl describes that it is someone with gold color hair and blue eyes. Takami says ah, if that is the guy. The girl asks could it be the one whom she talked about, studying piano together. Takami says if she sees him, she will know. She wonders, good looking guy? She goes out and finds that it is indeed Akira. She asks what is it. Akira gives her a bag saying that has left her stole inside the car on the way home. It turned out that Takami slept in the car. Takami thanks him for it. She asks if he would want to go home together. Akira agrees. Some girls are saying that Akira is really good looking. Then, Takami’s ex-boyfriend appears and shouts, you change/switch to other men pretty fast. Ex-bf goes to Akira and asks if he is the new boyfriend, liking a boyish woman, his taste must be really weird. Takami gets angry and gets between them. She tells her ex-bf that they no longer have a relationship and her relationship with Akira isn’t the same as he think it is. The ex-bf then pushes Takami away. This made Akira angry that he grabs the ex-bf’s collar. Akira tells Takami didn’t he says she can’t look at guys [know if they are good or bad]. Akira warns the guy that if he ever hurts Takami again, he will get it from him. The ex-bf gets tense and shouts for him to let go. He scratches away Akira’s hand that it is wounded. After the ex-bf retreats, Takami quickly looks at Akira’s hand and reprimands him for letting himself take the heat from the ex-bf. Takami cries over Akira’s hand and tells him not to do that again.

Akira says it is because you are my ideal girl. To Takami’s surprise, Akira gives her a kiss on the lips. He says that there is a limitation to being a late bloomer, I am not a girl, if I see the girl I like get hurt, I will hit that other person. Akira looks serious then he leaves. Takami is stunned as girls asks if they are going steady, is it okay to let him leave. Takami quietly says it is okay. The girl asks is it really. Takami says that they aren’t going steady. Then, Takami realizes something. Huh? Wait! Akira isn’t a girl, Akira is a boy. She starts to blush as she puts her hand on her mouth. Why didn’t I realize it? Ah, yes, before I somewhat know of this truth. It is because I’m afraid that my relationship with Akira, this nice brightness [a scene of the two while young studying] will change. She opens the door of Akira’s room. Akira is playing the piano when Takami puts her hand on top of his injured left hand. Akira says that hurts. Takami says he can play an octave [a musical interval of eight tones] now. Akira asks what is it. Takami angrily says he can play it and that’s all there is to it. Akira doesn’t answer. Takami says that he can reach even to mi key. [Basically, Akira’s hand is now bigger than hers. He can reach from fa key to mi key while she can only reach fa key to do key.] She remembers when they were kids, she would gloat that she can reach more piano keys than he can.

Takami laments that Akira exceeded her again. Blushing a bit, Takami says, about..about last night..thank you. Akira asks is she talking about her ex. Takami angrily shouts, thanks for the relief. [Akira himself bringing it up] Akira says you’re welcome but he won’t apologize for it. Takami shouts if he dare apologize, she will kill him. Takami puts her feet on Akira’s seat and says, oh ya, before I think of you as ‘my beloved younger sister’, now, it will be ‘my beloved younger brother’. Takami blushes when Akira smiles at her. He kisses her hand and says, I’m truly honored, your majesty princess. Takami angrily holds Akira’s face up to her and asks, who is the princess, huh? Smiling, Akira says you say it. The beautiful music of my heart beating, I’m afraid it won’t stop.

It seems that Takami is a bit clueless about Akira’s feelings. I think she must think that he is just teasing and cheering her but then, it is indeed a bit of improvement from being treated as a younger sis to a bro. ^^;; It is all because he seems fragile before that she is the one protecting him from bullies. She did mention that she fears for their relationship going that way for she wants to keep things so it would seem she is in denial over his feelings for her. Her ex-boyfriend is really something that he dumped her because of being boyish and just dated her because of her looks. He has the gall to accuse Takami of being fast with men. So, I think the story is how Akira gets to change how she thinks of him.

Edit 2: I just found Vampire Knight [c. 31] raw in BW. I didn’t know they have a folder for raw scans. ^^;; Since I don’t understand Japanese, I will just say what happened and from what some of the kanji, guess what they are saying. ^^; Yuuki can’t sleep that night thinking mostly about Kaname and I guess her past – something about knowing the answer. New student is introduced, of course, it is Ichiru. Yuuki comes in late and is shock to learn who is their new classmate. He whispers something to Yuuki at the hall about Zero’s taste and Yuuki gets angry that he is the same as Zero. Their classmates are all awed by Ichiru. Yuuki calls Ichiru outside. Ichiru says something about an enemy. He seemed to have put Yuuki in a position that Zero quickly pulls Yuuki to him, away from Ichiru. After some seemingly heated words between the twins, Ichiru leaves. Yuuki pulls Zero’s hair. Yuuki feels as if Zero is different from before. She then asks something of him. Zero looks as if thinking of something and pats her head as he says something. Then a flashback after the bite between Kaname and Zero, talking about blood, I guess on how it works to delay Level E. And the last thing was Kaname talking about Yuuki’s need to know the answer. Back to present, Aidou and others are waiting outside of Kaname’s room. Inside, Kaname holds his neck which seems to have healed already and senses them. He decides to open the door. Elsewhere, Ichijou calls Shiki to wake up. I think he calls him king/majesty. Shiki answers him and addresses him as Ichijou. Ichijou thought he is back to Shiki that he starts calling him Shiki. Shiki holds his hand and tells Ichijou to quit calling him Shiki. Shiki’s eyes are now heterochromatic/mismatch color. Ichijou’s grandpa comes and gives Shiki the usual bow and kiss hand routine. Grandpa addresses ‘Shiki’ as the true head of Kuran family, Kuran [insert name = Rishi-something or in Chinese, Lishiyang]. Ichijou looks nervous and sad. The last scene is of Ichiru watching Kaname as Yuuki goes to talk to him.

Quote of the day:
We can trust our all-knowing God for the unknown future. ~ Our Daily Bread.

The One [Chapter 31]
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 @ 05:45 p.m.

Fei Hong wakes up with a hangover and is shock to find a naked Lou Shang with a facial mask on. He greets her a good morning and asks if she slept well. Fei Hong instinctively kicked him away. Lou Shang says he became that way because of her. Fei Hong is then shock that she is naked on bed. Lou Shang says that she is like a wild mother lioness when she is drunk. Fei Hong is stunned as Lou Shang complains they did it all night that he is already dead tired. He says but who is he to complain since he let himself become a ‘sacrifice’. Fei Hong smelled herself then kicks down Lou Shang. Fei Hong shouts that Lou Shang is making it all up for she already knows of his nature. Fei Hong confronts him saying that she surely has threw up on him and all over his place that he is up all night cleaning up. Lou Shang finally confessed that it is true. Fei Hong laughs as she proudly say that how could she let just a thing happen without knowing, that is one of her strength. Lou Shang tells her but still she did cry yesterday and even asked him if he regret making him a ‘sacrifice’. He says that Fei Hong cried like a child. Fei Hong is shock by that. Lou Shang touches her face and says, that the way she cried is really something that it is kind of cute, it is the first time he has seen her so weak and helpless. Fei Hong retreats in the bathroom. Lou Shang tells her to wash and freshen herself up. Fei Hong cannot believe that she cried in front of him. She couldn’t believe herself that while sleeping, his position in her heart actually got ‘promoted’. It seems that Lou Shang is really becoming more of a man. Fei Hong hopes that she doesn’t catch the same sickness [love] as he has.

In the audition, the judge asks the models why they want to become a model. A long haired girl says that her friends say that she is suitable to become a model so she wants to try it out. A wavy light-haired girl says that she likes fashion. A wavy dark-haired girl says she is scouted by a company and it has been her dream to become one. Lele turns around and says, me? A scene shows that her feet has a lot of bandages/patches. She turns around and says to earn money so I want to become famous. A couple of the staff were surprised by Lele’s answer. On the day of the fashion show, Xiao Qui asks Fei Hong on her mobile phone if she will be coming to cheer for Lele since this is Lele’s first commercial fashion show. Fei Hong says that she is busy but she will see after the show. Fei Hong hangs up on her as Xiao Qui is puzzled why she is going after the show. Fashion show of Alexandra Mein is about to start. Xiao Qui is happy to see Lele who walked out the stage. The judge sitting beside Lou Shang says when he first saw Lele at the audition, he didn’t expect much from her – she is wearing cloth shoes [? – looks like rubber shoes or sneakers], her feet had a lot of bandages and saying her goal is to earn money so she wants to become famous. What kind of answer is that? But when he saw her eyes, he can’t take his eyes off her. It seems she doesn’t care if she gets this job or not. It is really weird of her to go to the audition. He has seen her from the perfume advertisements and her presence there is like a fiery elf feel but he likes her eyes better now which seems to be more human. From her facial reaction, she has this kind of stubbornness yet a little bit of sadness, strong yet weak.

At the party after the fashion show, Lou Shang calls Fei Hong and tells her that this is the time when she should appear. Fei Hong says if Lou Shang is trying to comfort her, he just failed for that won’t do. Fei Hong is actually nervous. Lou Shang says that he also called to tell Fei Hong that Lele is ‘qualified’ and that for the half-year, he has been looking at her family’s Lele turning to someone whom everyone is enchanted with, Lele deserves the reward that she gave her. On top of the roof in the building, Fei Hong finds Lele sleeping. Fei Hong is surprised and wonders why Lele is sleeping there. She fixes the jacket up on Lele then she noticed Lele’s bruised feet. She remembers Xiao Qui praising Lele that she was really cool and she has become a real model. Fei Hong touches Lele’s face and thinks, is it hard, will you never forgive your little aunt? Lele wakes up. Fei Hong changes her tone and tells her to wake up else she get a cold. She asks why Lele isn’t with the others partying, and went to the roof by herself. Lele tells her that there are too many people and her head hurts. Fei Hong thinks that before, Lele likes excitement. She tells Lele that she has impressed Lou Shang so by next week, she can shoot for W magazine cover. Fei Hong praises Lele for her good work and she is happy that Lele didn’t disappoint her. Lele coldly looks at Fei Hong and says that she doesn’t need to praise her, she only did it for herself. Fei Hong remembers Lele’s threat to do her best even if it kills her so that she can sever her ties with her. Fei Hong stands up and coldly tells her to do her best until the end, so she should maintain this and she will soon attain her goal. Lele looks at her as if she remembers.

So, Lele now can easily win auditions even if her interview doesn’t seem much like it isn’t to impress. It is how she does the work that impress the judges, probably from the trial walk. Lele’s hard work has finally reap rewards. Fei Hong still tries to act cold towards Lele though she has shown her kindness when Lele is sleeping. She is really striving to get Lele to become successful. Fei Hong and Lou Shang are pretty much becoming a couple as Fei Hong is falling for him. Hehe Amusing that she ended up like her sister in terms of love life though it is the ‘gay’ who is chasing her.

Quote of the day:
Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time. ~ Author Unknown

Weekly Jump Update: Bleach, D. Gray-man, Naruto, Gintama and One Piece
Monday, July 23, 2007 @ 11:14 a.m.

Bleach [c. 284] continues with Ichigo just slashing Grimmjow and it turns out that it wasn’t a finishing blow. Grimmjow shouts at Ichigo, does he think that he will win with this. A short flashback of Grimmjow fighting to climb to the top by killing stronger hollow thus retain his self-consciousness unlike those giant pointy nose hollow. He is then approached by Shawlong and others to ask him to be their king. Back to present, Grimmjow stabs Ichigo with his hand. Grimmjow tells Ichigo that he hates him for looking at him like that – even if Ichigo is beaten, he looks as if he is still stronger than Grimmjow. Grimmjow attacks again. Ichigo asks what is about that look, is it because he is a human who can beat Grimmjow in equal terms. Grimmjow hits Ichigo again as he shouts it isn’t that, it doesn’t matter he is a human, shinigami or a hollow, he will finish those who look at him with those kind of eyes. Grimmjow prepares another grand attack at Ichigo. So much for Ichigo winning. ^^; Most of his mask is already gone. It does seem that Grimmjow has a bigger role in Bleach that the author even showed a part of his flashback. From Grimmjow’s speech, I wonder if it includes Aizen.

Finally, Naruto and others has seen the explosion by Deidara in Naruto [c. 363]. They wondered what it is. Naruto wants to go and check it out. Then, Suigetsu pulls out a scroll and notices that a snake on it vanishes. He quickly gets it out and a huge snake appears along with injured Sasuke. The snake, a pet of Orochimaru, died as it is angry for being used like that by Sasuke just so that Sasuke can escape the blast. Sasuke’s group members re-grouped. Suigetsu decided that they should take a break. Meanwhile, Akatsuki held a meeting as Zetsu [the plant-looking guy] informs them of Deidara’s death caused by Sasuke. He also informs that Sasuke and Tobi are dead. Their leader don’t care about Tobi but will pay his respects to Deidara. Itachi is silent all throughout. In some place with tall building and pipes, someone then call out to the leader of Akatsuki, Pein saying that person is here. He goes to where another female Akatsuki is. Pein asks the person in the shadows how was Sasuke. That person praises Sasuke and he will become better than Itachi. He says that Sasuke has prepared himself, soon that that day will come. Pein asks what about the nine-tails [Naurto]. That person tells Pein to be the one to capture it since he is the leader and he won’t fail. From here, it does seem that they knew that Sasuke is still alive. So, why did they held that meeting to say that Sasuke is dead? I have a feeling that it is just for Itachi to know and that he will lower his guard. I wonder if they actually plan to recruit Sasuke in their group. There seems to be more behind Akatsuki as their supposed leader is actually the follower of the real boss. Could it be their goal is different from what they stated before – world domination by having the tails? Would Itachi be angry if Pein is the one who takes his prey [Naruto]? Well, maybe because of this new boss, Sasuke and Naruto will team up again.

The theme for Gintama [c. 174] is the story of Urashima Taro, a Japanese folktale. The story is of a fisherman who saved a turtle from some kids. Then, it came again to bring him to the underwater palace as thanks. He met a princess who accompanied him. After three years, he decided to go back to his village. The princess gave him a box and told him never to open it. He went back and found no one knew him and the village has changed. Confused, he opens the box and a smoke comes out. He becomes an old man. So, it turned out that the time underwater is slower than above surface. The story starts with Gin and Shinpachi who work as lifeguards but ends up using their binoculars to look at women in swimsuits. Gin asks where Kagura is. Shinpachi says she went off to find some turtle. They then finds Kagura with a huge crowd behind her. They went to where she is to find Kagura kicking a nerd guy in a turtle shell. Nerd turtle falls down as Kagura shouts for it to stand up. She made a reference to DragonBall about him – maybe he is like Roshi: the pervert old man with a turtle shell on his back. Shinpachi and Gin goes to the scene. Shinpachi asks what Kagura is doing. The nerd turtle says he is okay. Shinpachi says he isn’t okay for he is either a human or a turtle. Shinpachi reprimands Kagura for bullying it. Kagura says they are mistaken for that turtle is taking a video of the girls and she just came to help the girls. Gin asks if he is an otaku who takes video. Nerd turtle denies it saying that he is taking a video of the sea. Gin asks to check out nerd turtle’s video camera. The nerd turtle tries to stop them but Kagura is right, he is indeed videotaping the girls in swimsuits. The nerd turtle still tries to deny it but Kagura just kicks him in the face.

At their lifeguard station, nerd turtle apologizes and says not to tell his family since his wife is sensitive about this. Shinpachi then finds a ship license on him. Gin says but turtles swim. They notice that he live in a place called dragon imperial city. Gin and Shinpachi asks if it is true. He offers to take them there. On the boat, Kagura is singing about bringing a peeking turtle to dragon imperial city. Nerd turtle tells her not to sing it for it will circulate more and won’t be wonderful anymore. Kagura is imitating some singer named Noda. Nerd turtle says that they are now there and he would want some payment for entry. Gin and Kagura hit him for asking that. In the end, Gin says not to bother for they might turn into old men when they open the box. A speedboat approaches and it is Otae and Kyuubei. Shinpachi asks why are they there for they should have gone shopping. Kyuubei says they are going to be brought by the sea turtle, a tanned guy with turtle shell, to the dragon imperial palace as thanks for saving his daughter. They left just when Gin and others wanted to go with them. They tried to chase but is again, passed by a bigger ship with Taizou on it. With him is a pirate looking turtle. Taizou tells them that he jumped off a cliff, he was saved and now he is going to the dragon imperial palace. Pirate turtle says something about Taizou being the ingredient for Suga Shikao [singer of XXXholic opening, 19sai] so he is going to dragon imperial palace. A crew tells pirate turtle that something is above them. It is a flying turtle shell with Katsura on it. He is with Peach boy/Momo-Taro. [Another Japanese folktale character.] Katsura shouted that he gave Momo-Taro some corn so as thanks, he will go to sky india/bamboo. Gin shouts what kind of folktale is that.

Pirate turtle starts to shoot at Katsura saying that only Taizou can go to dragon palace. Katsura shouts he isn’t interested going there, he is going to sky india. Someone shouts there is no such place. Tan turtle with Otae came back and shouts who dare go against sea king. He starts fighting, too. In the end, Gin and others try to row away in safety as they were caught in the crossfire. Unfortunately, their ship got blasted away. Later on, Shinpachi wakes up on a beach and wonders if he is already on dragon palace. He calls out to the others. Is this dragon palace, there is nothing here, not even food, dancing maidens nor a palace princess. He only finds a skeleton in a cave who has marked days on how long he stayed there and finally, save me. Shinpachi’s eyes widen and screams as he realize that his worse vacation has just started. Hehe, that was pretty silly. I wonder what the author will spoof with Shinpachi alone is a deserted island – Cast away?

There is a nice colored page in One Piece [c. 464] and it marks its 10th anniversary. ^_^ Absalom asks why is Sanji so angry with him. Sanji angrily says that Absalom has taken away his dream. Absalom laughs at him saying he has never met Sanji before. He tries to use his palm attack again. To Absalom shock, Sanji tells him to drop the bazooka he is holding for it might injure Nami. Absalom says how could he know so much about him. Absalom fires anyway as Sanji kicks him. He made Absalom reveal the bazookas as one of them fell down on the floor. Sanji notes that Absalom is an invisible man who can even make things he touch invisible. Sanji tells him of reading a book about devil fruit powers and there is only one power he wanted even if the payment is he won’t be able to swim. Sanji shouts that it is his dream to eat the invisible fruit that he even thought of the things he can do with it – mostly to peek at women. So, stealing that ability from him for no two devil fruit has the same power and harming Nami, he can’t let Absalom go away with it. Absalom says he has enough of him, pervert wolf. Sanji kicks him saying how could he say that of him. The zombies agree for the two of them are the same. Absalom then says he understands Sanji’s anger and prepares to fight him. He shows his patched up body of different parts of strong beasts, with invisibility, he doesn’t need to depend on other things. Sanji kicks him and says but he still peeked.

Absalom can’t believe that Sanji’s kicks hurt him so he decided to go invisible. Absalom gloats that the girl Sanji wants to protect is his and Sanji will definitely lose. Sanji remembers Usopp warning of Absalom making Nami disappear with him. Sanji quickly takes Nami while trying to find where Absalom is. Sanji takes a lot of beating as he tries to protect Nami. Then, Sanji is forced to toss Nami away when he is stabbed in the back. Sanji doesn’t want blood to be spilled on Nami’s dress. Sanji says he no longer cares about being invisible for all Absalom do is just hide, he will rely on his own power to peek at girls. Zombie says he is still thinking of peeking. Lol Sanji notices his puddle of blood moved that he quickly grabs Absalom. Absalom shouts for him to let go. Sanji says for he is a patched-up beast, making him a meat patty is quite fitting. Sanji removes the knife from his back and gives Absalom a good kicking. Sanji says it is more fitting for him to marry a beast like himself. Meanwhile, Perona is being chased by Usopp who is being chased by Kumancy. Perona complains that if Usopp is gone, she can defeat the Strawhats. Usopp complains that if Kumancy is gone, he can defeat Perona. Usopp manages to evade Kumancy by using fire to bar its way. Usopp gloats about it and is surprised to see Perona outside the window, floating. Usopp shouts that her powers are only ghosts so how can she float on air. Perona tells him not to look down on her for just thought of a way to defeat him. Usopp shouts wait, the script is changing.

Hehe, One Piece fights are really funny and cool. It is amusing that Sanji is angry at Absalom other than hurting Nami is because of Absalom having invisible powers. I again wonder if that is really the end of Absalom. I’m hoping that while he is unconscious, the hippo zombie would come and get him to marry her. It is a fitting punishment. Maybe hippo zombie will tell Sanji how to wake Nami up. I guess the story now shifts to Usopp vs Perona. The author haven’t shown anything happening with Chopper and Robin vs Hogback and zombies though. Anyway, I hope when this arc is animated, it will be lots of fun like the manga. ^_^ I do wonder why Brook isn’t on the spread whereas before, Franky is already in. Maybe he isn’t confirmed yet to be the next member.

Quote of the day:
Try to be like the turtle -- at ease in your own shell ~ Bill Copeland

V. B. Rose [Chapter 60]
Saturday, July 21, 2007 @ 02:54 p.m.

Mitsugaya: So-called fate, isn’t just coincidence, I think that one should really want that thing to makes things inevitable. While reading a designer book, Ageha asks the two guys, Yukari and Mitsuya, how long have you been living together. This stunned the two. The two guys were shock by how Ageha phrased her question. Yukari angrily reprimands Ageha for asking it that way, as if they are a couple. Ageha says is that so, so, ‘when did you guys became intimate’. Yukari angrily says, he would want to grab Ageha’s head. He pulls Ageha’s head as Ageha shouts that her head might become long. Mitsuya asks could it be she is asking how long do they know each other. Ageha happily says that’s right. Mitsuya says that Ageha asked a good question. He grabs Yukari and says that this coming spring, they would have known each other for 10 years already. Mitsuya holds Yukari’s hands. Sparkling, Mitsuya says that they are now on their 10-year diamond marriage. Yukari angrily tells him not to use that kind of comparison. Curious and excited, Ageha asks, then what, then what. Mitsuya says and then. Yukari angrily says, don’t ask, don’t answer. Mitsuya poses and imitates Yukari. He says, ‘Mitsuya, do you want to be with me?’ Ageha loves it as Yukari shouts for Mitsuya to quit inventing things. Ageha tells Yukari not to be stingy/mean. Yukari shouts that this isn’t about being stingy. Just then, Ririko calls for Yukari to come and help her. Yukari shouts that he will go right now. Looking at the two, Yukari warns Mitsuya to not tell too much. Mitsuya says yes. Yukari warns again, you know, okay. Smiling, Mitsuya says yes, again. Ageha just playful pouts at him.

After Yukari left and a pause, Ageha excited asks, and then, and then. Mitsuya says junior high Yukari is really cute. Ageha exclaims so he is and that he must be like what he is today –charming like a prince. Ageha envisions girls screaming while Yukari is walking to school. Mitsuya says it isn’t like that, Yukari isn’t charming at all and he is just plain and simple. Ageha is puzzled and thought, what. Mitsuya explains that Yukari before isn’t exactly the same as the present. During junior high, he is only 150cm [4.9 ft] high. Currently, he is 178cm [5.8 ft]. Ageha is shock by this. Mitsuya says that the students in their year aren’t that many nor few. They didn’t study in the same elementary school and it is only on second year when they became classmates. So, he has never met Yukari before. While still young, what do girls look for in a guy. 1. cool 2. athletic 3. has a sense of humor 4. tall height. Enumerating these, there are still other qualities but which one is most important. Ageha says she doesn’t know but she thinks it is the ‘base/foundation/character?’ that is important. Mitsuya exclaims that the most important point is pretty cute guy. Ageha reacts, huh. Mitsuya says he doesn’t care about the others. The first time they met is when he is in second year junior high, it is the start of a bright May. Ageha asks why May and not April. Mitsuya says that is right, it is on May. Mitsuya explains why it is May.

Flashback until the end of the chapter: Mitsuya is the center of attention in his clas. Both boy and girl students surround him. They thought that Mitsuya is cool and carefree. Mitsuya then notices a ‘boy’ sitting by his lonesome, reading a book, across the classroom. Mitsuya asks who is that person. His classmates tell him that it is Yukari Aisaka. Another boy says Yukari used to be his classmate in elementary. Mitsuya wonders if he is a boy for he is so quiet. The other boy says that he has never talked with Yukari, don’t know him much except he is just a plain and simple boy. One asks Mitsuya if he knows ‘Ran’ the actress. Mitsuya says he knows her. The boy says that he heard that Yukari is her son. Mitsuya is shock as how could the son of a famous actress be in that place. The boy says it seems they are divorced. Mitsuya observes Yukari a bit and thought that Yukari doesn’t give out much presence that he didn’t even notice this.

Just when Mitsuya is about to not be bothered with Yukari, he heard someone call out to Yukari to return a book to him. The boy thanks him for the book. Yukari says he read it quite fast. The boy replies that it is interesting. Just then, the wind blows in the window. Yukari smiles and says, really. Mitsuya is shock and thought Yukari is really cute. He realizes that Yukari isn’t the simple and plain boy that others say. Yukari doesn’t talk much, has a kind, high pitched voice and has a smile that won’t look good in others. Mitsuya goes to Yukari who is reading a book. Standing in front of Yukari, Mitsuya thought that somehow in an impulse, he is motivated to talk to Yukari. Mitsuya notice that looking up close, Yukari is really a pretty boy/bishonen. Mitsuya says to Yukari, hi, what are you reading. Mitsuya smiles at him. Yukari looks at him for a while then snubs him by looking away. Sweatdrops, Mitsuya thought that he was just snubbed. Yukari goes back to reading his book. And so, their first trying to know each other has failed.

The next scenes are Mitsuya chasing after Yukari while Yukari kept on avoiding him. Mitsuya is depressed as he learns that Yukari has a skill in hiding though this won’t deter him. He exclaims that even if the mountain is high, for mountaineers, the higher the mountain, the better the reward. Some students wonder what is Mitsuya talking about. Mitsuya realizes that he have such a feeling in him – can’t let go of someone he finds interesting. Mitsuya wonders how to get Yukari to talk to him and why does Yukari kept on avoiding him. Mitsuya then changed his goal and decided to just get Yukari to smile at him. While reading a book, Yukari suddenly feels a ‘bad chi/feeling’ and wonders what that is about. Three days later, Yukari is shock to find Mitsuya waiting for him outside a room. Mitsuya happily says that he has finally able to guess where Yukari goes so he decided to wait there. Yukari thought that Mitsuya is really annoying. He sighs and asks Mitsuya, why. Mitsuya starts to explain his theory how he found Yukari there. Yukari says not that, why is Mitsuya focusing on him. Mitsuya is surprised and smiles. He answers that he finds Yukari interesting. Yukari repeats the word interesting and starts to leave. Mitsuya shouts for Yukari to wait and holds his sleeve.

Mitsuya thought that there won’t be another chance to talk with Yukari again. Mitsuya says that Yukari is like a girl, his name and his appearance, he has seen Yukari’s mother on tv, she is really a beautiful person. Yukari smiles at him and this surprises Mitsuya. Dropping his book, Yukari kicks Mitsuya and grabs him by the collar. Yukari angrily says whether it is a boy or a girl, he will show those people who look down on/belittle him. He lets go of Mitsuya and quickly walks away. After recovering from his shock, Mitsuya thought that Yukari is really cool and is really interesting. Mitsuya wants to become friends with Yukari. He then notices the book left by Yukari. Holding it, Mitsuya thought since Yukari left it, he has to return it. Mitsuya thought isn’t it like Cinderella leaving a glass slipper and returning it would have a happy result. Mitsuya smiles and thought that he just have another excuse to talk with Yukari.

The first part on how Ageha asks how long have they known each other is hilarious. It is amusing how Yukari is angry over it – maybe because his image will be destroyed and this is his girlfriend asking. The way Mitsuya answers it, it is as if they are lovers rather than friends. Lol From Mitsuya’s words, he means that even after meeting Yukari is by fate, working on to become friends needs work. Mitsuya is sure quite patient to stalk Yukari that way just because he finds Yukari interesting and wants to be friends with him. For a while there, it does seem to be ‘boy’s love’ ^^;; I mean do guys want to be friends with a guy whom he finds cute? I guess it is part of Mitsuya’s curiosity that here is a boy, Yukari, trying to keep a low profile when he is actually more than he portrays to be. Yukari does seem quite a bit anti-social. He talks only with people he knows. I guess it stems out partly from the trauma he got from Ran, his mother. Judging from before on how he met Tsuyu, I guess it is thanks to Mitsuya that in high school, Yukari has become more friendly and sociable. I’m amused that Yukari is sensitive to ‘evil chi’ even during junior high. Hehe

Word of the day:
Friendliness should be a characteristic of all who follow Christ. ~ Haddon W. Robinson from Our Daily Bread.