basic
+name: naoko nakuru
+birthdate: july 26
+location:anchorage, alaska

contact
+email: naynaoko@hotmail.com
+aim: NaokoFleur

description
+hair: red
+eyes: dark brown
+height: short
+bad habit: nail biting

favorites
+colors: green, blue, purple
+hobbies: piano, reading (fantasy! ^^), writing, more writing
+loves: music, ice cream, piano, anime/manga, books, snow
+authors: Neil Gaiman, Lynn Flewelling, Dorothy Sayers, Neil Gaiman again, JK Rowling, Richard Adams, JRR Tolkien
+anime/manga: tokyo babylon, x, gouhou drug, card captor sakura, gensoumaden saiyuki, .hack//SIGN, fruits basket, shoujo kakumei utena, here is greenwood, dn angel, yami no matsuei, anything else CLAMP
+charas: kudou kazahaya, tsuchiya ruka, souji mikage, takamura suoh, imonoyama nokoru, tezuka shinobu, watari yutaka, sakurazuka seishirou, sumeragi subaru, arisugawa sorata, kishuu arashi, hiiragizawa eriol, li meiling, sha gojyo, seguchi touma, nakano hiroshi, kinomoto touya, hiwatari satoshi

current
+music: Natalie Imbruglia, "Torn"
+book: Ellen Kushner, "Swordspoint"
+piano piece: Cyril Scott, "Lotus Land"
+transcription: "Strength"
+mood: frighteningly cheerful
+searching for: Tokyo Babylon 1999 drama cd translation, Combination manga translations

links:
Alison
Argustar
Ashura
Becky
Beth
Hinoko
Isa
Jenni and Malice
Kerianne
Leareth
Lika
Meg
Meimei
Murasaki
Nayami
Neil Gaiman
Taryn
Trin

layout
chiratsuku = flicker
version 1: Niwa Daisuke from DN Angel by Sugisaki Yukiru. although in this series Satoshi is my one true love, this is just such an awesome picture of Daisuke that I had to use it. ^_^
first blog layout ever. please forgive.






Saturday, October 5, 2002

*squeals* Hinoko-chan! I love you!! *glompglompglomp*

(...so I needed my LD fix, so what? No one else has mentioned this month's installment so far...I'm deprived...)

*drools* I need to renew my ASUKA subscription soon, yes I do... waiting 'til X comes back, though. At least, I'm trying to.

Er... I don't suppose you could tell me what's going on plotwise, maybe? (Assuming there is a plot.) Bad greedy Naoko, I know. ^_~

Thanks very much for the yummy scans, anyway! You're wonderful! ^_^ And have fun reading YnM! *pulls out her own TsuzukixHisoka flag and waves it happily*

the camera rolled at 09:54 p.m.


Thursday, October 3, 2002

A hilarious joke from the dir-slash list:

Shortly after the legal age of consent for homosexual relationships is lowered to 18, an Englishman goes to London and walks into the embassy of another country. He asks to see a consular official, and once he is shown in he immediately asks to renounce his British citizenship and become a national of the other country.

The consular official is stunned, and asks why he would make such a drastic decision.

The man calmly replies, 'Three hundred years ago, homosexuality was punished by death. A hundred years ago, you'd be sentenced to prison and hard labour. Twenty years ago, it was legal as long as you were 21. Now it's okay if you're 18. I'm getting out before they make it compulsory.'

XD XD XD

the camera rolled at 09:05 p.m.


Monday, September 30, 2002

For no good reason:

You will live in Apartment
You will drive a purple mecha
You will marry Lan and have 1 kids
You will be a musician in Cephiro

I could live with that. ^_^

the camera rolled at 05:15 p.m.


Sunday, September 29, 2002

...

*dies laughing*

That layout is beyond words. I adore it. XD XD XD Out of curiosity, did you see my post from yesterday or do we just think alike? ^_~

Now I’m definitely going to watch the CCD anime again as soon as I can (*coughs* have never seen the entire thing, actually...) and look for manipulatable footage. XD

Also! Good look on the kickass fic idea! I’m looking forward to reading it if it works out. ^_~

As for the DN Angel anime, all I know so far as that the last ASUKA confirmed that it’s in production right now and will be released in spring 2003. But if anyone knows anything more...please tell me. (Hopefully I sound more reasonable now than the 1 AM squealings from last night. ^_~) Ooh, and on the same information page it looks like there will be a sequel to Read or Die. *_* But Yomiko won’t be the main character? Aww... ;_;



I loved Part 7 of Home and Heart, by the way. It was sweet. ^_^ I *like* Kamui a lot in this fic! ^_^ Also looking forward to finding out what’s going on with Keiichi... and maybe seeing a little more of the other Dragons... perhaps in a more flattering light than Kamui seems to see them in, though. ^^;; I must admit it does seem to me that they’re actually *friends* with Kamui -- maybe not if the end of the world wasn’t coming, no, but as it is Kamui seems to care about them.. Maybe not when the fic takes place, though? I can’t remember what it’s like back in X12 and 13.

Anyways, I’m definitely looking forward to the next part. ^_~

So yesterday I bought the X DVD. Nearly fall over when Kyougo actually said “Shinken” in the dub and not “Divine Apocalyptic Sword” or another weird translation, like you often hear in dubs. ^^;; The dub voices weren’t too bad either -- though I don’t think Aoki was genki enough and Seishirou was just strange. o_O At any rate, I’m happy with it. Hikaru did a great job on the translations. ^_^

Then I watched my friend play Kingdom Hearts. I lovelovelove Riku. *_* Want RikuSora fics (what? *another* shota pair? what’s happening to me?), but Disney is being idiotic about copyright and not allowing fanart, doujinshi, etc... I can find a few Japanese fics (that’s helpful -_-), but not the many Japanese fanart sites that are usually out there. Screw Disney. ;_;

Eh... do you ever get the feeling that someone making a general statement is actually talking about you, but you can’t *ask* them if they are, and you just ending feeling curious and guilty and unhappy and wondering if it’s just your conscience or if it’s as bad as they say, and you know the feeling will follow you for a week? I hate it. x_x

Well. *That* pleasant note came out of nowhere. O_O Suppose I’ll end at that, goodbye. ^_^

the camera rolled at 10:26 p.m.


Sunday, September 29, 2002

O_O

O_O

DN Angel anime?!

KYAAAAAAAAAAA!! *__________*

Must...know...more....

Er. That is. Has anyone got any information on the DN Angel anime I hear rumors of? (perhaps you or you? Maybe?) Anything at all? Words do not describe how much I love DN Angel. Am ecstatic at the thought of an anime. Please, please, please, tell me anything you know. *_*

(*coughs* Please ignore my extreme excitement...the later at night it is, the more fantastic and amazing everything seesm. ^_~)

Oh, and I realize this is very late in the day (all right, technically it's Sunday now, but it's still close), but I can't let this day, September 28, pass without commemorating a very special event. ^_______^

(yes, this is mostly for you)

Happy Birthday, Azuya Nagisa!

*Naoko's new Nagisa theme song ("Hit 'Em Up Style" XD) plays in the background as streamers unroll and confetti falls in showers *

XD XD XD

I *am* feeling silly tonight. ^_^

*birthday information courtesy of clamp-net.com*

the camera rolled at 12:28 a.m.


Saturday, September 28, 2002

Can someone tell me how you talented photo-editing people go about removing words from a picture to make it into a layout base? Like say, getting rid of all the writing all over the ASUKA color pages? Because I've tried and it hasn't worked. ;_;

I am inept, you see. ^_~

the camera rolled at 12:35 p.m.


Friday, September 27, 2002

Ee hee hee! Beginning of the Lawful Drug 2 translations are up at Bell's! ^_^

*happy*

Hurray for shameless fanservice. XD

the camera rolled at 11:59 p.m.


Tuesday, September 24, 2002

*happy squeals* Today I finally got Lawful Drug 2! ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ It was separated from the rest of my last manga order...very frustrating. x_x It’s mine now, though!

That reminds me...I need to renew my ASUKA subscription. I also really want the North and South Side artbooks, but do I have the money? Nooooo... What series are in which artbooks, by the way? Someone on the CML posted a list, but of course I forgot...

Also, does anyone who *does* have get ASUKA feel like telling me what happened in Lawful Drug this month? Pleeeease? *puppy eyes*

And now a bit of socialness....

*dies laughing* Words fail to describe what a great mental picture that gave me. I wonder if there’s any footage in CCD that could be even remotely manipulated to fit that... XD XD XD By the way, how’s your translation of Yasei no Bara coming along? ^_^ Oh, and thanks for the MV recommendations, both of you. Lord’s Prayer is just *awesome*, and I loved Your Song. ^_^ Especially because the day that I found it I’d been singing that song all day... I need to see Moulin Rouge again. Haven’t seen it in awhile.

And, Becky, could you possibly give me the address of those YnM translations the monster chat was discussing? Please? I only got my YnM manga recently and I haven‘t looked very hard for translations yet. Thank you. ^_^

Nayami... looks like I missed most of this, er, discussion. (Of course I agree with you about Sorashi, though...) So I’ll stick to stating my mutual obsession and love for Hikaru no Go. Especially Touya/Hikiru. ^______^ If you find any good fics let me know... I‘ve found a couple before but I can‘t find the addresses. ^^;

You know, I’ve noticed there are more and more shota pairings I’m interested in...first Suoh/Nokoru...now Touya/Hikaru...and I’ve always been a bit of an Eriol/Syaoran fan. ^^;;; This is a little disturbing.

Anyway, my weekend. Sunday I spent most of the day biking all around town selling things to raise money for the choir. I am so sooooore... @_@ But I made lots of money, yay. ^_^ I also made a few interesting observations:

1. There is nothing quite like a carload of guys wearing foil top hats propositioning you at a stoplight. o_O;;;

2. Except a carload of *girls* propositioning you at the next stoplight. O_O;;;;

I think yesterday was fraternity and sorority initiations or something...I was pretty close to the local university at the time, anyway. Other interesting events included strange people smoking under the traintracks offering me weed, a moose and her calf ambling along the sidewalk in my direction (this is actually somewhat of a common occurence where I live), and some little kid soaking me with their garden hose. The things I do for my choir. -_-

Speaking of which, I’m wondering whether I should try out for a solo at our first concert (October 10)... it’s right in my range and I really like the song. But this *is* my first year in any choir...I think I’m lucky enough to have gotten into concert choir on my first try. ^^;;

Eh. I’ll think about it. In the meantime I’ve got to get the X DVD, see “Spirited Away”, and read more of Sophie’s World. Cool book. ^_^

the camera rolled at 04:36 p.m.


Saturday, September 7, 2002

So, school has started. And my classes are HARD. Five hours of calculus homework the second night... @_@

Anyways, lots of social blogging to do. ^_^

Hinoko, that's one of the many reasons I've enjoyed OAPTH so much -- the roughness of the beginning. Because then you can really see how much you've improved as a writer over the course of the story. ^_^

Of course, if you have edits those are good too... ^_~

*dies laughing* Kazahaya...and Chii....*snickers* Thanks for the link. ^_^

Speaking of Kazahaya...if you translate LD 2 (it does indeed have furigana), I will marry you or be your willing slave for the rest of my life, whichever you prefer. *_* I *adore* LD, and I don‘t know if the person who translated the first volume will be doing the second as well.... Please please please? *puppy dog eyes* If not that, you could try scanning and translating that short Asuka story Yasei no Bara...your comments intrigued me. ^_^ I've let my Asuka subscription lapse and I'm waiting to pick it up until LD comes back. ^^ Oh, and also I cast my vote for scanning a little pic of the CCD charas in the most recent installment...I haven’t seen them for awhile. ;_; (wah, I ask for so much, I know...)

Anyways, good luck with Uni and choir as well. ^_~

Thank you for the AMV recs. I always appreciate those, as I have a slooooow 28.8k dialup, i.e., no time to waste downloading MV's that turn out to be crap. x_x

Also, I really hope your classes don't kill you. *hugs* Your journalism requirements scare *me*...good luck, though, and I hope you enjoy it. ^_^

O_O My god...it’s going to take me *forever* to get through those recs...especially because I don’t have time any more. Damn you and your evil tempting ways. ^_~

Oh, and I *must* join this clique as well. For those anyone who hasn’t seen it yet: the title is "euthanize: an end-subaru's-misery clique".

Subaru, I love you dearly, I will cry at your death, but you're making me miserable just looking at you. You have nothing left to live for, just die already, please?

My perception of Subaru exactly. Poor dear. ;_; *huggles*

And you know, I'd completely forgotten about Powerless!Yuzuriha for a bit. >.> She lost her powers for awhile but ended up all right... So Arashi *really* got shafted in terms of powers. Although I have suspicion we'll probably see her with a sword again before the end.... It seems to me she probably *will* come to some great revelation or something and discover that her powers are not dependent on some outside force...mostly because, you know, it’s an interesting CLAMPish plot twist without really being deep. ^^; You know, all I'm hoping for right now is a nice sappy Sorashi moment or two before they kill him. ;_;

I've said my piece on Arashi‘s situation now, anyways, and barring a *really* interesting new idea, if I keep talking it will probably just be to hear the sound of my own voice. -_-;;;

Done with socialness for the moment...will finish up later. Really need to go work on new layout and LD shrine.

the camera rolled at 1:18 p.m.


Friday, August 30, 2002

Officially retract everything I posted to Hinoko about five minutes ago about writing more of this fic because I just checked and as of yesterday there are *three*! new chapters! at once! ^______^ Thank you. ^_^

the camera rolled at 11:05 p.m.


Friday, August 30, 2002

Spent much of the afternoon watching anime to counteract inevitable return to school on Tuesday. Hellsing and Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne. Hurrah for very strange contrasts. XD And I worship Alucard, and just love Chiaki. Integra rocks. ^_^

Now how can I get my hands on more of either series... Thank you very much. ^_^ Arashi support! Yes! (Glad I could help even a little bit, by the way. *links you*)

*squeal!* I love your layout! Aoki-saaaaaaaan! *hearts* ^_^

Also linking Hinoko because she's an awesome SuohxNokoru fan! And is working on a great fic, On a Path Towards Happiness, that she should write more of! *nudgenudgenudge* I would have linked you earlier if I'd known you had a blog. ^_~ (Ooh, and a Touya/Yuki MV? Where? They were my introduction to shounen-ai as well -- at least, shounen-ai beyond Gundam Wing. -_-)

*hmms* I think I need a new layout.

the camera rolled at 10:49 p.m.


Wednesday, August 28, 2002

*whoosh*

Enjoyable Asuka this month...and LONG! 34 pages! ^_^

(And I don't really mind the two month delay. Yes, of course I'm going to be waiting on the edge of my seat for the next developments, but as there's probably only about two years before the series ends, a little prolonging is not unwelcome... I'm going to miss X too. ;_;)

Lots of Sorata, meaning general happiness all around. ^_^ Er, my happiness, that is, not the charas'. ^^; Arashi isn't actually part of the Chi no Ryuu yet... but I still remember the mention of a page from a few months ago in which Kakyou says something about new Dragons of Earth rising to replace the dead ones, the reader is presented with the standard seven hooded figures image, and you can see strands of long dark hair escaping from one of them... at least, I'm almost sure. Will have to wait for X18 to check.

Actually, someone on the CML mentioned an interesting theory -- that there are certain requirements for each DoH/DoE position, and since Arashi is not an artificial lifeform, she can't take Nataku's place. If that was the case, what *is* she planning to do? o_O The majority of X fandom (including myself) has pretty much assumed she's off to the DoE... but it would be interesting if she wasn't. Of course, I have no idea what the heck she'd do, just pondering. Anyways. Arashi. I agree with you that she's not an idiot. Confused and desperate is indeed more like it. In one day she's given in and admitted she's in love, lost her virginity, lost her powers (although she should still be able to make a kekkai, right? more about that in a minute), and the guy behind all of this that she cares the most for is probably about to die because of her (wah! ;_;). I don't think *anyone* would be thinking to clearly under those circumstances -- and running away actually makes some sense (unless, of course, she's running to the opposite side).

The way I see it, Arashi is used to supporting herself, not needing anyone else, the usual aloof, detached, self-reliant bit. Suddenly, she does need someone else, and she can no longer fight/protect herself. Such an abrupt about-face undoubtedly has her completely lost, and she wants to escape everything. Putting her as of yet unknown destination aside for the moment, her line of reasoning isn’t that off, either -- she can’t protect herself, Sorata says he’s going to die for her, she doesn’t want him to die, therefore if she leaves he won’t have to try and protect her and probably die in the attempt. It’s only when we get to the DoE business that I get thrown off. -_- If that happens, I *really* hope CLAMP explains it and doesn’t go the usual mysterious unexplained routine because I just Don’t Get It.

Kekkais. Even if Arashi’s lost her Ise Maiden powers, she should still be able to create a kekkai, right? She still wants to protect Sorata, at least. Although according to the Dreams of Sakura summaries, she says something about not having the powers of the Dragons of Heaven, either... that does imply she can’t create a kekkai, but why not? Perhaps there are more requirements than I remember. ^^; Actually, that lends more support to the specific-requirements-for-Dragons theory -- if she doesn’t have the Ise shrine powers, she can’t be a DoH. She couldn’t protect her kekkai, in any case...

Bleah. I’m confusing myself. The point of that was, Arashi Is Not An Idiot. My take on it.

But theorizing feels good, if confusing. Which means I’m going to go and work on writing my little Dark Kotori scene snippet again. Yay. ^_^

the camera rolled at 11:07 p.m.


Thursday, August 22, 2002

*squeals loudly* An A/K mailing list!! Thank you! ^_____^

Oh, finally linked Ash. Cause she's an awesome alien kitty fic-stalker. =^.^=

Another request...does anyone know where I can get (either illegal or cheaply legal) the Guilty Gear drama cds? A friend of mine has a positively unhealthy Sol/Ky obsession. ^_~

On a parting note: I *heart* Hikaru no Go. Very much. XD *sai love*

the camera rolled at 10:31 p.m.


Wednesday, August 21, 2002

....well.

It’s been while, huh? ^^;;;;

To make a long story short, last time I posted I said I was finally better. I wasn’t. A couple days later I relapsed or whatever you want to call it, was *really* sick and ended up in the hospital with...pneumonia (!). In the summer. How I love Alaska. x_x So a blog wasn't at the front of my mind for awhile.

Anyways. I've missed a lot. *meeps quietly* But hopefully this time I really will be back to my normal schedule... fortunately I haven't missed the beginning of school. I feel much better. Things are mostly good.

I've got a request, though, to anyone who has the Wish scanlations from Clouds Up. I discovered that while I was out of it they've been removed due to licensing and such. ;_; Does anyone have the last chapter of volume 2, the first of volume 3, or the Kouryuu side story that they'd be willing to share? O-ne-gai-shi-masu? That's all I'm missing. ;_;

That done with, I'm off to read blogs and tackle my email. Ergh.

the camera rolled at 10:11 p.m.


Tuesday, August 6, 2002

*waves frantically* Er...I'm alive again! ^_^ Have been feeling better for a few days, but haven't had the time to get on the computer. SO I'll be back to theorizing and such soon. ^^

reminder: link jenni as she is a very nice member of the dir-slash list. ^_^ (yes, DiR would be Dark is Rising, another new obsession...)

Anyway. Alive. Posting. That's all.

the camera rolled at 12:54 p.m.


Thursday, July 25, 2002

stillk alive.

so sick can barely sit up. hard to type.

sorry.

bye.

the camera rolled at 01:42 p.m.


Thursday, July 18, 2002

*collapses in a small heap*

Naoko...had all of three hours of sleep over the last two days... *whimpers*

She came down with a virus of some sort practically overnight...

Her cousin is arriving tonight to visit for a week and a half....

Naoko realizes she needs to clarify quite a bit of what she wrote yesterday, since she contradicted herself on a variety of occasions, wasn’t what you’d call coherent in the first place and certainly didn’t say what she meant to. Naoko also has a lot of new ideas and responses. However, they will have to wait a bit. Please excuse.

In other words, sickness and relatives will limit computer access for the next few days, but she’ll try to get something up before too long. When she thinks she can make sense again.

*coughs and sniffles and curls up in a little ball* Naoko’s going to sleep now. Good night.

the camera rolled at 01:45 p.m.


Wednesday, July 17, 2002

As if I hadn’t chattered enough today already...

Thanks. ^_^ Yes, I got back from AX, read all these interesting decisions and decided that I’d start blogging again...which I’d been meaning to do, really. And I was hoping you‘d join these discussions with your wonderful knowledge of A/K. ^_~

That’s a very good point you make about how Aoki doesn’t really do anything to directly protect his family, just save humanity and such, whereas he‘s close to Karen. It’s struck me before that it’s a little strange how they never make an appearance. Not in appearance, voice, anything. ^^; (I mean, Aoki talks to Shimako on the phone, but you don’t even hear (read?) what she’s saying) I’ve wondered if it’s so if/when Karen becomes Aoki’s most important person or he falls in love with her (and you’re also right about there being two in his family, whereas Nanase Ohkawa seems to have specific ideas about how everyone has one person the most special -- well, not Nataku) the readers won’t think of it badly, and won’t have a lot of sympathy for Shimako, a character they’ve never met.

Still, if Dark Kamui (Fuuma or Kotori) directly attacked his family, I wouldn’t want to be between the two. ^^; I think Yuka and Shimako are probably going to die in the manga...or what would their purpose be, when they don’t even make an appearance? I doubt we’ll ever see them, even dying, leading me to believe that Aoki is too late to save them or doesn’t find out ‘til it’s over...after which he’ll probably be grief-stricken enough to try and attack Fuuma (talking canon here, now) and Karen will almost certianly be involved somehow. Whatever the results are, they won’t be pretty. ^^;

Er...that’s my thoughts, anyway. I admit I don’t have a very good grasp on Aoki and Karen yet... I’m trying, though, since I do love them. *huggles A & K* Along with just about everyone else in X...

As to a fic itself for all these Dark Kamui Kotori ideas...we’d better do something! ^_^ Er, actually, I feel like I’ve kind of intruded -- I had absolutely nothing to do with the main idea, I just jumped in out of nowhere uninvited and started babbling all these opinions. ^^;;; So...I’d like to work on the actual fic (I have a feeling multiple people will be involved) if no one minds, but if I’m being annoying I’ll stay here, throw out ideas, and still have fun. ^^

the camera rolled at 11:57 p.m.


Wednesday, July 17, 2002

Thank you. ^_^ I only have time to spend on long CLAMP thoughts because it’s summer and I can’t get a job! *sniff* You just have a life. Although from the sound of your job... *winces* Ouch. Very, very sorry for you. *patpat* Let’s see, Manx is the Weiss Kreuz person with huge red ringlets (tho mine weren’t nearly big enough) wearing a red business jacket and (very) short skirt. Juri...looks like Juri. That’s the only costume anyone recognized, anyway. ^^; I was the Juri who was lucky enough to have long red (orange) hair naturally and only had curl it. ^___^ (Although it sort of...flattened...by the end of the day)

*glomps* Wai! The creator of this wonderful Sorashi site! ^_______^ I owe you a lot for Stormy Skies. ^^ Please join the Sorashi discussion, I’d love to hear what you have to say, since you obviously care a lot about them and probably have a better understanding than me. ^^;

Speaking of which...

Meep. That makes sense, that Fuuma might just kill Arashi to fulfill her Wish. -_- But I don't think she wants to die, just not have Sorata die, so Fuuma might not kill her...although that‘s the only way I can think of that he could fulfill her Wish...

Assuming it is her Wish, after all. ^^; It's the most likely thing I can think of, anyway.

Now that I think about it, thought, I definitely doubt Arashi wants to die. Her side story and some of the emphasis on her has always been about the will to live -- the will to eat is the will to live. She mentions that a couple times in...X12 and somewhere else...and at the end of her side story she decides to eat and therefore to live. My point, as unclear as it may seem, is that there seems to be too much emphasis on her wanting to live to suddenly want to die, even for Sorata. She could still run away...but that's not interesting enough for the storyline, I'm sure. -_-;; Oh, and if she wasn't switching sides she'd still be a DoH, and probably still want to stay and save Tokyo/humanity/etc.

Backing up a bit... Switching sides never really made much sense to me either. Perhaps by switching sides she thinks she’d fall in Sorata’s regard or something...? That's rather melodramatic I know (and never true, of course), but as you said, desperate people rarely think rationally. Hmmm...oh, maybe she’s thinking if she's on the other side, Sorata's not going to have to die protecting her from the DoE, as he almost did in X17 with Fuuma and that bridge, because she's on their side. Great. -_-;; Even so, that wouldn't explain why she'd actively work for them, like in the anime (*meeps* need to go watch the last five episodes again, I can't remember anything from it)... however, the more I think about it, the more Sorata-being-killed-protecting-Kamui-from-Arashi thing makes sense. The prophecy says something along the lines that he'll protect Kamui even with his life, but he'll die/give his life for the woman he loves. Erk. x_x If he died protecting Kamui but for Arashi... well. It’s suitably CLAMPish. >.<

That still doesn’t explain why she'd want to actively contribute to the other side! And for once I can’t think of even a plausible-yet-far-fetched-answer, except for lack of other options. >.>

Anyways, definitely agree about how we're probably out-thinking the Fantastic Four in terms of complexity. Wah. Which makes me really hope, as you said, that they won’t continue in the same easy drama path X is on and "redeem"/cheer up Subaru. Waaaah. Er... I agree with almost all of your thoughts according to Subaru, except that it’s quite possible Seishirou being "in" the eye or whatever is Fuuma screwing with his head. Especially if Subaru's Wish now (along with mine) was the Sei-chan was Still Around or still with him or something relating to him. Probably the marks just vanish when the Sakurazukamori dies. ^^;; The thought of CLAMP trying to erase Seishirou’s presence is frightening me now...god damn it, if they do that I’m going to...I don’t know what I’ll do, but it will be Drastic and Scary. *nodnodnodnodnod*

And because my Internet connection is still dead and I have nothing better to do at the moment but type this offline, I’ll continue on the Dark Kamui Kotori bit.

Thank you very much for the compliments. ^_^ *hugs* I have lots of fun writing little scenes, and I owed you for the Subaru/Seishirou scene.

Okay, I’m glad you could find places in the eye scene to fix. ^^ Cause there’s no way Subaru could fight against someone who looked like Hokuto. So...if Seishirou saved him...he won’t lose the eye at that moment at least. There’s no getting around the fact that it’s his Wish, though...

.........what if he did it himself? *creeped out very badly*

And what would Seishirou’s reaction be? He seemed awfully miffed when Fuuma hurt "his" Subaru, but if Subaru did that to himself, what would he think? (*pauses to check pronouns and hope everything made sense*) This isn’t even specifically for the Kotori continuum, but for the manga, too. If Fuuma hadn’t taken Subaru’s eye out...erk. *still creeped out*

You’re right about Subaru’s Wish being more for Seishirou to see him as more than an object than for Seishirou to kill him. The question is, what else could grant that?

...........whoa, what if Dark Kamui was behind it? That’s her whole purpose, to grant wishes, so...so if Seishirou’s Wish was for Subaru’s Wish to be fulfilled and Subaru wanted to be more important, two Wishes for the price of one if she could do something to somehow convince Subaru or make Seishirou show that Subaru was important. Which could involve almost killing...really serious, not just a random blast...and fighting Seishirou when he tried to rescue Subaru, so that Seishirou had to fight back, a lot...well, I s'pose that could still just be "my prey, don't touch"...but the eye rescue has to raise some questions, too. Maybe that’s another reason Dark Kamui was trying to hurt Subaru at that time... At any rate, lots of possibilities down that road. Oh, there’s that scene in X12 when Fuuma and Seishirou are talking, that could be fun. ^_^

Yes, we are well on the way to avoiding X16! Yay! ^_^

I never paid much attention to Kotori either, until 1) I met her voice actor at AX (and TV series Kotori is not as bad as manga Kotori) and 2) this cool AU came up. ^^ I just went back at looked at all my early X tankoubons because I forgot what was happening. ^^; Anyway, in X6 Kotori has this dream -- dreamgazing type thing -- in which she sees Kamui, wings, the hooded Seals, feathers, gears, etc... then she sees herself dying on that cross thing. ^^;; Naturally, she’s frightened. Next, she sees herself falling towards the earth and thinks "It’s no use... I’m to collide with it... the earth -- the earth is going to shatter... because of me..." then more about how it’s the world where Kamui and Oniichan live and how she can’t stop falling, then "If the earth is going to shatter because of me... I... It would be better if I shattered instead." And the image of herself breaks into a few million pieces. A similar scene occurs later on but I don’t remember where. Anyway, I think that’s her Wish. Very useful.

Internet still not working, on to Aoki and company.

I don’t necessarily think Karen is his Most Important Person...I just think she *should* be, but that’s complete fangirl-ness. Thinking about the series itself -- actually, I wish Shimako and Yuka actually made an appearance somewhere. It makes it a lot harder to figure out what will happen with one character when you have no idea who the other characters are like. -_- I like the idea that he’s like Nataku in regards to most important person and person he likes the most a lot, actually. ^_^ I doubt Karen’s his most important person yet, if she ever will be...it would probably involve...well, the death of his family actually. ^^; And even so, he’s protected his family for so long, I doubt he could change just like that. For now I’ll stick with him *liking* Karen the most. ^^ That scenario with Aoki, Nataku, and Kotori after the death of his family makes..lots of sense. Poor Aoki, if Nataku reminded him of his daughter and then he killed him (it?)...

I really don’t know what Aoki’s Wish is. Probably to protect his family, though. I know Karen’s is that someone will cry for her when she dies (how cheering -_- ), but hopefully that can translate as someone caring for her enough, because I’d prefer if she didn’t die. Actually, I thought that’s what was going to happen in the last ASUKAs. Meep. If that’s her wish, though, and Dark Kamui Kotori wanted to fulfill it.... wah. ;_;

My connection is working now! Yay! But, a random scene before I post:

Daisuke: *to Dark Kamui Kotori*: Why...do you look like Hinoto?!

the camera rolled at 01:55 p.m.


Tuesday, July 16, 2002

*squeals*

^________^

New...illustration books...including DUKLYON! (*hearts*) and Lawful Drug...

Naoko is very, very, very happy. Duklyon is terribly underappreciated, and I *adore* Lawful Drug. *_*

Speaking of which, just a question, are you going to do more with you Lawful Drug shrine? I don't mean to sound annoying... ^^;; I just love the series, yet there are very few sites. What you have so far is great, I'm just greedy I guess. ^^;;

And that is so, so amazing! And cool! ^_^ Lucky you... not that you need me to tell you that or anything. ^_~ Good luck if you do get to sing on that cd, or go on to study opera, or anything like that!

the camera rolled at 01:29 p.m.


Tuesday, July 16, 2002

I worship you. Just so you know.

More Dark!Kotori plotline musings. XD

As much as I would like no X16 ending, that wouldn't depend on Kotori being Dark Kamui, I don't think. X16 and related all events -- actually, just about every Subaru/Seishirou interaction -- dates back to Tokyo Babylon. The eye, for one...I'm madly in love with the scene you described (*_*) and if you write this fic you HAVE to put it in there... but it was Subaru's Wish to lose an eye, and as you said Dark Kamui isn't evil, just Wish-fulfilling. Therefore, unless the Wishes were different, it's unlikely that she'd try and kill Subaru outright. And then the X16 mess is all about Hokuto, Setsuka, Seishirou's Wish... anyways, just something to keep in mind. I have complete faith that you'll figure something out and Keep Them From Dying. ^_~

Perhaps, in regards to the killing/eye thing... well, Subaru wanted to lose an eye to be equal with Seishirou, who lost an eye for him. Kotori looks like Hokuto. Hokuto let herself be killed for him. Maybe he wants to be killed to even out Hokuto's sacrifice. I can believe Subaru would want that. -_-;; Although that would contrast with his Wish to be killed by Seishirou so he could be more than an object..

Well, who ever said you can't have lots of Wishes? ^_~

So....back to Kotori. Back at the beginning of X, Kotori would then be having visions of Fuuma cut to ribbons, impaled with the Shinken, and tied to a cross. As well as her and Kamui fighting...

*imagines Kamui and Kotori diving and circling around Tokyo Tower, gripping the twin Shinkens with looks of grim determination, Kotori's hair whipping and tossing in the breeze in standard CLAMP style, the air ringing with the clash of swords as the two meet and then separate again...*

...you know, this is really fun.

.........wait. Would Fuuma then be the one have the desire for himself to break instead of the world? Because that was part of the reason in the manga he killed Kotori, right, granting her Wish of wanting to break rather than have the earth break? It doesn't quite seem like Fuuma to me…

...................OH. It would be very, very interesting if that was still Dark Kotori's wish. O_O It would fit with the DoE philosophy -- humanity (represented by Kotori) destroyed, the earth saved. And then at the end of the story she would die, to save the earth, yet humanity would still be somewhat saved....more role reversal as she has Kamui kill her and grant her Wish.

*Kamui cradles Kotori in his arms as she gasps for breath, once more her sweet, kind self in her last moments*

Kamui: *voice breaking* Kotori.... Kotori... doushite, Kotori?!

Kotori: *heart-breaking smile* Because, Kamui-chan…it is my Wish.

Kotori: To save the earth....

Kotori: Good-bye…Kamui-chan...

Kamui: KOTORI!!

;_;

I need to go check the beginning of X and see if I'm remembering things right, though. ^^;; But that would make a lot of sense in current X timeline, if Fuuma had been the one with dreamgazing power. I could so see that being his wish.

Now, switching to Nataku. Kotori would remind him of his (Kazuki's) mother. For Kazuki, her most important person was her mother, while the one she liked the most was her father. After killing Nataku, Fuuma said that his Wish was to protect his most important person and be killed by the one he likes the most. Now if the one he likes the most is his mom, i.e., Kotori....he would be killed by someone else, someone who reminds him of Kazuki's dad....like Aoki.

And this could tie in with Aoki's most important person. By the time the Aoki-Karen-Nataku scene of recent Asukas comes around, I'm firmly convinced Karen is/should be Aoki's most important person (I admit that there's quite a bit of fangirl pairing bias there...but this *is* fanfiction). So to protect her, he'd end up either killing Nataku or trying to kill Kotori and Nataku dies protecting her... and that way, Nataku would protect his MIP and be killed by the one he loves most. And Kotori can look like Karen to Aoki.

Okay, so a lot of that hinges on an A/K pairing. But it can probably be altered to leave it out...that's just my personal bias.

Taking a break from theorizing, be back with more later.

the camera rolled at 12:56 p.m.


Monday, July 15, 2002

Waah...

I was early to my piano lesson today, so I was reading Stalking Darkness in the practice room and left it there during my lesson. And my piano teacher's dog got ahold of it.

Fortunately, the pages themselves and the front and back covers are still intact and relatively firmly held together...however, the lower quarter of the spine or so has been badly chewed and mangled and the cover there was shredded. And there are puncture marks on the back cover that go on through to the last pages.

My poor Seregil and Alec. Chewed up by a scrawny little mutt.

...yes, I'm a cat person, why do you ask?

Don't worry, I’m still in that floating newbie phase, too. In fact, I was very happy you noticed me. ^_^

As to CLAMP, I think there comes a point when you just start out-thinking them. ^^; As twisted as Nanase Ohkawa and company are, they don’t have the time fans do to think up half of the really, really complicated (and cool!) theories we seem to produce. Or if they do, they should be using that time to make X installments longer than 15-20 pages a month. >_<

long opinions ahead

In regards to Sorashi, aside from Sorata dying the most plausible theory seems to me to be Arashi changing drastically to protect Sorata / try and thwart destiny (good luck >.<;;) -- but I don’t think that would involve joining the DoE. It may well involve her dying instead, but joining the DoE wouldn’t solve anything. I mean, if she wants to keep him from dying for her, what would joining the other side do? It only seems to make it *more* likely... he could even let himself be killed by one of the other DoH in her place. But according to ASUKA developments it seems as though that is indeed what will happen...leading me to think the theory of Sorata following Arashi to the Dark Side makes more and more sense. However, I think his connection with Kamui is too strong for that, and there’s no way he’d hurt the others unless he was completely emotionally void. For that, in Sorata’s case. every single person in the world would have to die or something. o.o;; So I don’t think Sora could handle being a DoE.

Another idea is that he could let Arashi kill him. He’d definitely be dying for the woman he loved. Either he’d protect someone in hopes that his death will make her realize what she’s doing ... or maybe he would die in someone else’s place and protect her from herself and the mistake she’d be making by killing, oh, Kamui (or someone else)...that’s just twisted and cruel enough to be possible. You were talking about death being an emotional death like Subaru’s -- he could have her kill him to protect her from that. Ack, the more I think about it, the more it makes sense.

Also, backtracking to the subject of joining the DoE, Arashi should still be able to make a kekkai, right? She has to have something to protect..and while I doubt Subaru does anymore (well, he could end up at the very end wanting to protect Kamui, making a kekkai, and making the S/K fans happy... -_-), doesn’t she want to protect Sorata, if nothing else? At least, in the anime I was under the impression that was the whole reason she joined the DoE. Although I have no idea where this comes in, it seems like it should be important. Just a point to keep in mind.

/end long opinions

...so. that was a lot longer than I intended. Back to lighter subjects, I adore Sugisaki Yukiru’s art. DN Angel is wonderful. ^_^

And I really want X tv to come out already. I want to start making the music videos I‘ve been planning forever. Only, do I do the Sorashi one or the Subaru/Seishirou one first? Want to do both...

I think I’m going to go rewatch my digisubs of X now.

the camera rolled at 09:40 p.m.


Monday, July 15, 2002

Becky, as to your Sorata/Arashi ideas, you *must* read this fic by Lika. It's got one of the ideas you mentioned, and it's one of my favorite Sorashi fics ever. Although it's depressing as hell. But really good.

*sighs* There are so many possibilities for those two, I'll be disappointed if CLAMP goes with the obvious Sorata death setup. Although I'll still cry. ;_;

*sniffles* I don't want them to die. CLAMP is so evil. ;_;

(And...on a totally unrelated note, I Really Want that Kotori-Dark-Kamui fic. *dies* *_*)

the camera rolled at 10:37 a.m.


Sunday, July 14, 2002

Almost forgot. Also linked Neil Gaiman, because those who know me know that I WORSHIP him. *_*

the camera rolled at 10:06 p.m.


Sunday, July 14, 2002

So, I'm back from Anime Expo and a week of vacation in California! ^_^ And out of nowhere I decided to start blogging again. Yeah, so I'm weird. >.> Edited links quite a bit...Linked Leareth, Trin, Isa, Beth, Meimei, and Becky because they're all terribly cool people who's blogs I've been reading for quite some time. If any of you all mind (considering you probably have no idea who the heck I am), just let me know. ^^;

Trin and Isa, I saw you guys at AX. ^_^ I was Manx from Weiss Kreuz Thursday and Sunday and Juri on Saturday. I was at the Ikuhara panel and also hung out with the "whack a sakurazukamori" Subaru and Seishirou a lot. ^^ Anyway...I just thought it was cool to see people I know of online in RL...living in Alaska and all I rarely see civilization. ^_~ Isa, I liked your wings. *nodnod*

Now to babble about all the goodies I came away with. ^_^

manga/artbooks/doujinshi:
Tokyo Babylon 2
X 11-12
Gouhou Drug 1 (I WANT MORE!)
Wish 1
RG Veda 7-8
Campus Cops Duklyon 1-2 (*Why* is there no anime for this?)
Combination 1-3
Imadoki 5

artbooks:
X Zero artbook (good quality Hong Kong ripoff! XD)
X "First Contact" book
Gravitation TV Animation Fanbook

doujinshi:
Tokyo Babylon doujinshi "Taboo" (my god! the art! the story! I adore this dj! *_*)
CCS dj "Love and Peace" (yueyueYUE ^_^)

other stuff:
plushies! XD Sorata, Yuzuriha, Gojyo, and Hakkai <3 <3 <3 My friend snatched the Aoki one before I saw it, though. *weeps*
X TV OST 1
X Character Files soundtrack
Lodoss piano sheet music book (WAIWAIWAI!)


I'm completely broke. And happy. CLAMP rules my life. ^_^

Add to that the Tokyo Babylon 1999 drama cd that came while I was gone. I love that too. *_* Although I only have a rough idea of what's going on...translations, anyone? Anywhere? Please? *puppy dog eyes*

From the list of your stuff, Meimei, it looks like you were at the Mandarake booth, too. ^_~ CLAMP manga for a dollar apiece, anyone?

Speaking of which, are there any Combination translations available? Failing that, I'll buy the French version and translate it myself, but I won't have any money for awhile now. ^^;;

And...This post has become entirely too long. I'll keep quiet for awhile now. Bai. ^^

the camera rolled at 09:38 p.m.