dasaku

Ny logo!!

HB — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:41:36 -0800

Som ni märker pryder nu en snygg och väldesignad logo denna blog och så kommer det att förbli. Temat kommer ändras men logon består.

Tänkte att det vore dags för ett temabyte, har ju haft K2 ett bra tag nu och tänkte även på att det var dags att testa att ha i princip bara text som logo den här gången. Då jag är kass för tillfället på att göra den typen av logor så tittade jag runt litet.

Tack vare att jag varit en hel del på SPLAY så visste jag ju varifrån den logon kom ifrån. Så jag tog kontakt med ”greger” och utan att tveka fick jag ett designförslag som gjorde mig helt hänförd, jag skulle inte på många månader ha kunnat göra någonting så vackert.

Så fick det bli. greger har nu designad logon och den kommer vara kvar för en lång tid framför. För alltid är nära nog att säga

Ni hittar greger på http://olleolsson.carbonmade.com/ där ni kan se hans andra verk och se om det inte är något han kan göra för er.

P.S som ni märker så har jag även bytt tema. Denna gång försökte jag mig på att göra ett eget tema, fast jag utgick ifrån en existerande ramverk och ändrade bara om färgerna till mitt tycke. Vilket blev riktigt bra allt som allt.

Reality and Fantasy: Finding the Moral Barrier

m3rryweather — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:45:16 -0800

Lots of jawing and not-so-fancy words from this post.

A while ago I’ve finished the route of kyun kyun imouto, Sakuno and I’m glad the writers took a more “serious” approach to her story. It really takes the social taboo of sister love by the horns and really wrestles around with the feelings and morality behind it. Because of that, I enjoyed Sakuno’s route much more than other imouto stories in certain aspects.

Though when it comes to the actual problem, there is quite a load of opinions thrown around and many folks in the world do have real struggles with it. Unfortunately, this kind of topic usually brings scorn and condemnation from both sides and is not usually taken with a willingness to understand.

Besides the whole genetics issue, there are still many problems regarding incest, and yes that also includes the non-blood relationships. If I was a father and raised my son and daughter for roughly twenty years, I will feel weirded out if they both suddenly said, “DADDY! WE’RE GONNA HAVE BABIEZ TOGETHER!”

Am I supposed to look at my son and my daughter as my children or a lustful couple wanting to “shag it up?” How do I explain to my grandchildren about their unique parents? It’s complicated in a bad way. If my children marry outside the family, I would not have to deal with these unnecessary problems and it saves a lot of emotional turmoil and awkwardness. It is a relief to not be on guard in case my son have nasty thoughts and wants to nail my wife and his mother.

Also incest will usually create a divide in the family. It will weaken and even break the bonds of trust between loved ones. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the Jerry Springer/Maury show. You don’t see the whole family line jumping for joy over incest. Instead, there is a lot of crying, guilt, pain, and bloodshed.

So I have my reasons why I’m against incest and it may sound arrogant, but I think they’re pretty good ones too. I can understand the power of attraction and why certain individuals want to go that “route” but I hope they understand the consequences behind it too.

“But M3rry! I thought you LURVE IMOUTOS!” someone might say. And yes, I do have MOE over imoutos. So doesn’t that mean I am secretly an incest supporter? Let me make it clear to you. NO.

This is where things get easily misunderstood. There are a bunch of idiots in the world who cannot understand the difference between what is acceptable in reality and fantasy. For example, there are a huge number of fictional rape fantasies catered to women. It is sexually stimulating to the intended audience but that does not make it morally right. And I’m ninety-nine percent sure most women would not want it to actually happen even if the guy is Edward Cullen (maybe).

Contrary to what many people believe, there is a universal moral standard. Sure there are secluded tribes out there who eat people and rape women for pleasure and honestly believe it’s okay. But this is a genetic fallacy. Just because the raping cannibals think it’s justifiable and morally right doesn’t prove it is. The rest of the world can easily say there is something morally wrong with cannibalism and rape.

So to sum it all up, human beings can understand what is morally right and wrong. What’s amazing is that there are people who can also see what is and isn’t acceptable in reality and fantasy! Humans can see the difference between what could be done and what shouldn’t be done! Unfortunately, there will always be folks who cannot see it on both sides of the issue. Those GTA kids and loli picture haters sure don’t.

Okay, time to end this on a light note. I was lured into trying out that shapeshifting watchamacallit on phi-age’s site and received this.

Please don’t rape me Hemi!

SCANDAL does K-ON!

kevo' — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:38:15 -0800

Recently, Japanese teenage pop group SCANDAL covered K-ON!’s wildly popular and recognizable ending theme Don’t Say Lazy to commemorate their third anniversary. It’s quite fitting because simply, SCANDAL “lived the life” glorified by K-ON!, going from a completely unknown group of high school girls, to giving live performances, balancing schoolwork with the labors associated with being in a band, to (ok, maybe they went a little farther than K-ON! did) becoming a smash hit and going on international tours. Every teenage kid who picks up a guitar and starts a band in their garage has this dream of ascension though the indie scene in their minds. Stateside, punk-rocking, hormone driven teens may not exactly be thinking about K-ON! and SCANDAL but the basic idea is the same.

I like the cover. The rearranged some of the instrumental parts and the girls’ voices is distinctly different from Hikasa Yoko. Most noticably, SCANDAL has four vocalists (all the them) while Houkago Tea Time has one (either Toyosaki Aki (Yui) or Hikasa Yoko (Mio)). While Hisaka’s voice is of a richer quality, the SCANDAL girls, particularly Haruno Ono, render the song with a much more dry-cut almost punkish feel. The improvisations from the original in the cover were creative and gave the song a good new feel while still remaining very loyal to the anime original. The energy is definitely there, but which way it rubs you depends on, well, you. A touch more bass also couldn’t hurt.
Regardless of what one may think of K-ON! as an anime, the majority agreed, before the season even started, that the ED kicks serious ass. The cover is pretty cool and I recommend you all check it out. I kindly threw the YouTube up at the end of the post. You can grab the high quality source off Tokyo Toshokan

I would like to point out here they they should not be all genki and smiling. If they really wanted to stay true to the original they should all be staring kinda into space with no expression on their faces, just like in the ED animation. Oh well, you can’t get always get what you want.

And as promised:

Together with House-Husband, Part 2, Story 32 – The King of Blades.

Xephfyre — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:49:25 -0800

Together with House-Husband, Part 2, Story 32 – The King of Blades.

Midnight. A solitary shadow dashed through the mountain of buildings. Archer.

Having left the Tohsaka residence, Archer had thoroughly searched the mountain range Servant Assassin had made his hideout.

But the many traps were already destroyed, and all Archer could accomplish was confirm that Master and Servant were no longer there. Perhaps they had gone on the defense with their secret weapon lost. If a Servant can’t fight at a sufficient level, even the Master couldn’t very well force them to do the impossible.

There were two reason a magician had to retain their Servant for the duration of the Holy Grail War.

First was to procure the chalice that was one of the condition for final victory in the holy grail war. The Fuyuki Holy Grail was a ceremony that condensed the chalice, itself in spiritual form, into a “husk” called the Holy Grail. Only spiritual bodies could touch something in spiritual form. Servants were thus, consequently necessary.

Second was for the Master’s own self-defense. The seven mages each possessed a servant with power beyond the reckoning of man. To protect themselves from those others until the very end was exactly why they needed a Servant’s power.

This was why a Master had to be especially sure to protect their Servant as well. If the Master was burdened with a weakened Assassin with no particular ability to regenerate, he could not readily battle another Servant. Consequently, it was likely they had simply hidden themselves in a place they would not be found.

With no trail, continuing to pursue only them was far too unproductive. At the very least, there were four other people’s Servant to confront. Tabling his search for the moment, Archer turned to ensuring his own attack and reconnaissance points. Right ahead, in front of the large bridge, there stood a soaring white tower- Fuyuki’s Port Side Building.

Fuyuki’s big bridge. The giant arch suspended above the Mion River was a wire connecting two cities- the only method of migration. There was a ferry, but after the bridge was completed the demand for it decreased, and now it existed as a pleasure cruise for touring the river. And so, seizing this point would be a boon for capturing and attacking enemies in the Holy Grail War.

The bridge was the in the highest class of tall objects within Fuyuki. The highest point of the arch was over fifty meters from the water’s surface, and points in Fuyuki that could successfully target and strike the point were limited to a select few. There was one in Miyama, and two more in Shinto. Of those, Archer had selected Miyama, a corner of an expansive industrial area in front of the park- the Fuyuki Port Side Building.

After several years, the modernization of Fuyuki continued with station buildings that had been marked for reconstruction. There were several renovations of business buildings and the start of construction. The Fuyuki Bridge itself was also an aspect of the city’s redevelopment. Considering it would be a waste not to take advantage of the scenery in the area, the construction of multiple recreational facilities and corporate offices was undertaken. The Fuyuki Port Side Buildings were fifteen stories and fifty-two meters, boasting the greatest height of all the business facilities constructed in Miyama.

On top of gaining a sufficient angle to aim at the bridge’s footpath and main road, firing on the arch from a level, nearby height was possible. The distance from the bridge was eight hundred meters, a passable range. Gaining the attack opportunity was exactly why the tallest location had been chosen.

From the building, to the roof, to the sky engulfed in darkness as the sun fell, Archer leapt. He raced towards what would soon be his hunting grounds.

But, his feet, rushing towards his destination, abruptly stopped on the roof of the building before it. He opened his eyes in shock.

In the bloom of moonlight, the Port Side Building cast an enormous silhouette. Among the steel frames of the buildings under construction standing in rows like grave tablets, a single completed four corner shadow looked like a gravestone. There, Archer saw the figure of what he had lost.

It was nothing more than an apparition, a broken dream.

All Heroic Spirits ended their lives unnaturally, or in despair. There was not one that had no lingering regrets when at death’s door. Thus, after death, even after being transformed into pure might, people’s thoughts and intents remained in the form of humanity. That was a Heroic Spirit. A proxy spirit possessing thought.

“…What-”

They were Servants, spirits. To grant their own wishes and desires, they were captivated by the object know as the Holy Grail, and came to be.

….Ah, in that case. I suppose it was inevitable to meet her here.

On top of the steel tower of the Port Side Building, her hair swaying in the wind, was a beautiful silver knight.

A figure far more transcendent and composed than anyone else.

Eyes that hid unwavering purpose stared at the ceased Bowman.

“…Well met, Servant.”

A cold voice greeted him. Nostalgia, longing, affection… many feelings sprang forth. Among the many things inside of him, something shook.

“Any further is death. Even so, for your desired wish, you would pierce that body with steel. Are you prepared to proceed?”

“…Ah.”

Unconsciously, he smiled. Always honest, always the same- that was who she was.

You’re a fool, Saber. This is a battlefield, and we are Servants. It’s obvious what we’re going to do.

“I’m truly sorry about this, Servant Saber. We’re swords. At the most, we’re faithful attendants. Stepping into death for the sake of my master is only natural, no?”

Upon hearing his answer, Saber smiled slightly. Then, with the shape of her mouth bending in a look of self derision, she spoke.

“Then words are unnecessary for us. Come, Servant. I will cut down those hopes and dreams, and advance.”

Invisible Air took flight. A blade of dual properties had been prepared.

Wagering on desires they could not surrender, their individual purposes separated by the chasm between the buildings-

*Shing!*

-alongside the ringing of steel, clashed in midair!

Together With House Husband, Part 2, Chapter 32.
The day of fate. You pierced this heart more vividly than anyone else, and then you were taken away.

I could never forget. Even if I were to fall to the very depths of Hell.

A star that shined with a brilliance greater than anything else.

That star was your figure, Saber.

Spice & Wolf Volume 01 (LN) – Thoughts & Impressions

Tiamat's Disciple — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:07:36 -0800

Many thanks to Yen Press for providing a review copy

About the Mangaka

Hasekura Isuna is a new writer on the block, with this series, Spice & Wolf, being his first published work.

About the Manga

When I originally watched the anime of this I was unimpressed, rather I thought it was crap. I also didn’t understand all the hype surrounding it, supposedly it was the best anime ever made. In the end I thought the anime was a pathetic waste of time since it didn’t do anything it set out to do. As such you can imagine my total apathy towards reading the novels…

The cover of this novel is a bit misleading as I found out while reading it in my local coffee shop. The waitress thought I was reading a ‘saucy’ book and asked me not to read stuff like that in the shop. We both had a laugh over it once it was cleared up. Everything about the cover screams Black Lace (they’re a women’s erotica publisher in the UK whose covers do bear a striking resemblance to this one hehe), but that’s just the cover design, there’s nothing inside it that’s steamy, other than good read

One thing I can’t stress enough is that this is Isuna’s first work, as such it’s rough and unrefined. It lacks the polish we see in other fantasy style novels, both imported and native.

However personally once I got settled into the novel I found this roughness to be appealing. A lot of novels I’ve read have, in a way, a clinical cleanliness feel to them. Every word is in the right place, no comma’s in the wrong place and no misuse of verbs; this volume lacks that surgical feel to it.

It’s written in a rather wordy and convoluted way, with repetition and at times it does get bogged down in itself. Rather than being annoying, I found this rather refreshing and made me want to read more of the volume.

Isuna is a good story teller, though he does seem to struggle at times with getting what he wants to say across properly.

However none of that matters because the story and characters he create are truly amazing. Both Horo and Lawrence are alive and vibrant and their interactions are really funny to watch.

What really surprised me however is the way the supporting characters felt. Initially they were pretty average, however as the volume progressed they became stranger and more real,

I really liked Horo in the novel, which is a complete reversal for me since I hated her in the anime. The thing I like about her here though is that while she appears perfect, she has moments of childlikeness that really make her more loveable.

I like the way she uses her centuries of knowledge to to do various things (such as conning a merchant into paying more than he wanted to), and yet this same aspect is what also leads to her embarrassing herself at times. I was also happy to see she had a few flaws that made her superiority and mild arrogance easier to find loveable, rather than hating.

Lawrence is the same, his personality in the novels is more real than the anime, and is more fleshed out. In fact I liked his personality a lot, and found it went well with Haro’s. Though admittedly I do feel he needs a bit of a stronger personality, I found the way he was always being overwhelmed by Horo a bit much, and feel the banter would have been a better if it was more equal.

As the volume progressed, especially in the latter part, his personality does get a bit more stronger, and I’m hoping that this is a sign of things to come.

For me the entire saving aspect of this volume is the premise, a ‘harvest god’ travelling with a wandering merchant while making her way home is a really intriguing concept with a lot of potential. This volume alone shows off that potential and gives hints of something else to come.

Isuna is by no means an excellent writer, however he is one of those writers you don’t really care if they make mistakes. The reason being you see something special in the way they write.

I grew up on high fantasy, the likes of Tolkien, Eddings, Gemmell and Fiest, and I feel that Isuna, while he’s no Tolkien he has the same impact that Eddings and Gemmell have had.

Ayakura Jyu did the art for the series, and I’m in two minds over it. The colour panels are amazing, and several of them are really heart touching, I’m loving the chibi Horo on the index as well. However the art panels inside were less impressive, and lacking something, but it doesn’t hinder the volume any.

I have to admit I don’t really like the oversize nature of the volume, I preferred the normal novel size that Yen Press used for Kieli. Though it’s no where near as bad as some of this months releases, *cough* Ghost in the Shell, Akira *cough*

I’m happy they kept the colour pages in since these really do set the stage for the novel. It’s hard to judge translation in novels, but I have no issues with this volume. The story flows reasonably well, and the few minor issues I had were more down to Isuna’s writing style than anything else.

Overall though I think this is a series that’s well worth buying and reading, I can’t seen anyone really being disappointed with it. So much so that I’m adding it to my Essential Read list.

Where to Buy

Brits: Play.com or Amazon UK
Yanks: Borders or Amazon US
Canadians: Chapters or Amazon CA

NEEDLESS Chapter 12 Translated.

Xephfyre — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:48:12 -0800

I’m sorry for the lack of updates, please excuse 8.00am classes and project deadlines.

I don’t even have time to ponder my options in the morning!

Mediafire: HERE
Hotfile: HERE

On a side note, if anyone cares, I saw Evangelion 2.0 last weekend. Here’s a short review.

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

January Prosperity

Kresnik — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:41:02 -0800

Hemi-killer

Newprimus — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:46:27 -0800

How to achieve a certain, sure-fire, one-shot kill against a certain Hemisphere? Comrades in debauchery, I have discovered such a method. She is from phi-age’s upcoming game, Shape Shifter, and her name is Natia.

Let me babble some specs to you folks.

She’s a mahou senshi from another world. And an ultra-hot bishoujo.

She fights with a sword. And then with a REALLY big sword (see above).

She speaks in one of those old honorable samurai warrior kind of dialects, and looooooooves apple pie. And it’s as if she grew up in a world without men, cause she is utterly devoid of the usual sense of shame and self-consciousness when the protagonist stumbles upon her in the bath…in her complete, utterly glorious form. Lastly she’s also got a calm yet passionate, straightforward personality and has a good heart to carry the dude after he faints from the mentioned bath scene all the way to his room, and then sleep next to him, IN THE NUDE, to provide his body warmth. All without a tint of shame, reservations or cultural self-consciousness of what she’s doing.

That sound you’re hearing, aside from the one made by your member breaking free of its fabric confines, is probably Hemi in deathly throes of cataclysmic moegasm. To summarize: ultra-hot bishoujo mahou senshi, huge sword, no experience with opposite sex whatsoever, great personality, wonderful voice fitting her samurai dialect, and loves apples. All that combined with phi-age’s fantastic art style and their gaming engine—which if you’ve ever played their earlier game Owarinaki Natsu, you’ll know is almost cinematic in sheer dynamism and quality.

Clearly you can all now see why I labeled this post “Hemi-killer,” because if there is ever anything that can cause him to go into explosive ejaculations, it would be this game and its frontwoman, Natia.

Obviously now my #1 game to look forward to. Like Yuma, our protagonist below, I can’t wait.

And probably neither can Hemi.

SuperPLAY är död, länge leve SPLAY!!

HB — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:52:23 -0800

Det var med tungt hjärta som tidningen och forumet Superplay fick läggas ned. För oss forumiter i alla fall.

Vad gör ett gäng forumiter som kan koda? Jo de börjar smida planer på att göra någonting eget som ersättning till den sida som vi alla närt vid vårat bröst sedan de första tidningarna vid namn Super Power kom ut.

Forumet är i dagsläget det enda som fungerar. Men det funkar över förväntan. Adressen når ni genom att klicka på loggan. Det är allt som behövs.

Det kommer tillökas i framtiden, men hur mycket återstår att se, men det kommer utökas vad min information säger mig.

Så är du en av de som inte vill att Superplay ska glömmas bort som en underkategori till FZs forum, ta dig då en titt, registrera dig och ha skoj med oss gamla SP medlemmar som dagligen njuter av att skriva som vi gjorde förr, med de vi är vana vid att se och njuter av varandras sällskap.

Kom ni, ni är alla välkomna.

Länge Leve SPLAY.NU!!

‘Otaku’, What’s in a Word?

kevo' — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:10:14 -0800

If you’ve been reading blogs about anime or related culture for any amount of time at all, you know one thing. The internet is serious fucking business. And while I’ve had this post floating in the thinktank for a while, there’s no better time than now to let’er rip. So what is an otaku? Let’s see.

“Otaku” (おたく/オタク) is a Japanese slang term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga, and video games. (Wikipedia)

And that is as tame as it gets. See, on Wikipedia they have to maintain a neutral, balanced, and objective view on topics. It’s fine if you’re researching things like monolithic kernels or the history of Poland, but it’s totally different when you’re reading about a topic that is so crafted by public perception that its dictionary definition is totally buried and forgotten. Let’s look at examples from a source more shaped by community perception.

Otaku is extremely negative in meaning as it is used to refer to someone who stays at home all the time and doesn’t have a life (no social life, no love life, etc)

- death_to_all, Urban Dictionary

Otaku is a Japanese word for house.
As in you never leave it.

Please don’t call yourself an otaku, especially in front of real Japanese people, which you most likely never meet.

- jingjong, Urban Dictionary (link)

And I can’t even find a specific sentence to quote from here. As you can see, and I assume it being no surprise to you, the word “otaku” is not generally seen in a very positive light here on the tubes. For good reason. You’ve been to Sankaku Complex. You’ve read about the 2d waifus and epic otaku rooms funded by thousands of dollars for merchandise. When I was younger, in high school, I had a friend whose AIM was “superotaku544″ or some number. He was basically every negative stereotype against us anime/manga fans all rolled up into one. You know, that guy. The Naruto/Inuyasha fanboy that won’t shut up even if you’re totally not interested. The guy who cosplays to conventions despite having no idea what the hell he’s doing. It’s worse sometimes when they actually don’t even know that much about anime in general. “Oh, so what are you watching this season?” “Oh, I only watch Naruto. Dude check out this awesome forehead protector I bought”. This was back before I really picked up anime. When I finally started anime I was rather weary at first, just because of what I have seen from my otaku-challanged friend. People like him create the stereotype of anime/manga/eroge/whatever enthusiasts, and to be honest, it’s unfortunate. When people with whom I am not super close with ask me about my hobbies, I don’t tell them that I enjoy watching anime. The perceived notions, stereotypes, and negative judgment is just so much. “Oh Kevin, you have a blog? What do you write about” “Oh, umm… anime” “Oh. *look of total disdain* I see.”

Now, I know there are a good plenty number of friendly folks who enjoy anime to a slight degree and watch very casually. That’s fine, if you’re having fun, who cares? The thing is that you don’t go around calling yourself that terrible word and thinking it’s some kind of badge of honor. Because I can tell you, it’s not. The word “otaku” has become a label; a label infused with all the facepalm worthy, idiotic, and humiliating things some overzealous fans do that makes everyone who enjoy this medium look bad. I’m sure that fans of English soccer (or football. Whatever) are not all crazed hooligans that burn cars and kill people when Manchester loses. I’m sure that not all Italian nightclubs and bars are run by the mafia. And it’s the same way; not everyone who watches anime and enjoys anime culture goes to school wearing a fucking furry tail. I’m not making this up. Oh god bad memories.

And of course, now they are also on the internet. Remember that incident with Chihara Minori’s waterbottle? Admittedly, that wasn’t too big of a deal to me. Sure, you’re putting your dignity as a human being on the line, but Setsuna is a pretty cool guy, it got Atarashii Prelude a whole mountain of hits, and it basically became a kind of a joke. Good for them; if I could trade some of my dignity for hits on Desu ex Machina, I would consider it. No, I’m talking about people who name their blogs “The Otaku Discharge” and talk all day about how they do nothing but watch anime, how awesome their “otaku lifestyle” is, post pictures of their shitty cosplay, and masturbate to Danny Choo. If you exhibit any of these symptoms, I have some advice for you. A blogger heart to heart, if you will. Shut the fuck up. No one cares.

Thankfully, to combat this is are heroes of justice , who seek to clean the annals of the blogosphere once-and-for-all. They have keyboards, and they mean business. Of course, I’m talking about the ‘Otaku’ Elimination Game. Here, they take four blogs a week from their index of blogs about the anime subculture and tear them the fuck apart. I guess I feel rather flattered that I was on their initial hitlist of blogs, which was a who’s who of the anime internet. The list has grown since then, since you get added if you just give them your URL. As Desu ex Machina’s eventual public flogging approaches, I’m rather interested to see how other people feel about this whole “otaku” business. People who whine and complain about the Otaku Elimination Game can’t take a joke. Be happy that people actually took time to read your writing and evaluate it and maybe, just maybe, consider if there is truth in their comments. Regardless, that site has good resources on the concept and more detailed information on the perspective of “otakus”.

Before this post was published, I have used the word “otaku” on this blog exactly three times. And that was because of the lack of a better word. I don’t consider myself an otaku, and that’s because, in case you have not already gathered, I find the term borderline derogatory. Just like with black people with the n-bomb, though I think the context is rather different. But a dilemma does arise. If we do not consider ourselves otaku, what do we call… well, ourselves? If nothing else, humans seek identification, a label. “American”, “Irish”, “11’s”, “Democrats”, “Republicans”, “homosexual”, “transsexual” etc. What is this culture that we write about? Just earlier in this post, you’ve seen me tripping and grasping for words to describe it. “Anime/manga/eroge/whatever enthusiasts” and the like. What term links me to j1m0ne, CCY, Pontifus, Danny Choo, and Moogy? “Anime bloggers”? Then what about Tiamat and manga bloggers? What about m3rryweather and Micchi and eroge bloggers, what about figurine bloggers? Art bloggers? We all share interest in the same culture, but what is it called? Japan? Well, I feel it almost condescending label anime and games as solely “Japanese culture”, because that’s sad. Japanese culture is much more rich and deep than this, we are not worthy of that name, quite simply. What is this network of blogs I read called? “The Otakusphere”? Well, is there something else to call it?

Delusions

Hemisphere — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:24:32 -0800

Right. When a bishoujo in a china dress has got you pinned against the wall with that look on her face, you start listening…with a huge boner. ANYWAYS! The reason for my long-ass hiatus is as follows:

OKAY I CAN’T EXACTLY SIMULATE THE ABOVE PIC IN GAME, BUT I CAN DREAM! Too bad Mifuyu wasn’t wearing any tights, but it’s all good.

I’ve been meaning to talk about a ton of upcoming titles as well as ones I’ve recently tried, but I’ve got to get ready for a long-ass trip later this day so I’ll do that later when I get home. SO WAIT UNTIL I GET HOME FOR NEW CONTENT!

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank all the guys in ID ECO for being such good hosts. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Thanks ish, Ike, Zer0, Zime, and wijen (who FORCED me to make this post AGAINST MY WILL)!

-Himesphere out~

AMD’s long term strategy with Fusion

ritchan — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:10:09 -0800

Together with House Husband, Part 2, Story 31 – A Sword for a Sword.

Xephfyre — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:57:23 -0800

Together with House-Husband, Part 2, Story 31 – A Sword for a Sword.

Raindrops as fine as mist slid down Archer’s wounded body.

He stood at the top of a tall tree on the outskirts of the Tohsaka residence. Archer had continued his defense of the mansion since returning that night without coming into contact with the two.

He had expected as much, but there had been no attacks by Servant or Master so far.

The wounds Assassin had suffered had all but killed him. Archer’s Noble Phantasm had completely destroyed his trump card, not to mention he had also lost a great amount of magical energy and had no easy means to replenish it.

But the opponent was a Servant. Unable to leave the two young children behind and go on the offensive, Archer was now also unable to leave this place.

*Rattle*

Lost in reverie, Archer’s ears seized a sound coming from the Tohsaka mansion. Out the window came a melancholy, immature face. Rin.

Rin had been like this ever since returning home that night. Outside of eating or possibly using the bathroom, she did that all day, absent-mindedly gazing out the window.

“…Lean forward that much and you’re going to get wet… Your temperature will drop, and you’ll catch a cold too. …Have you gotten a little thin? I wonder if you’re eating right…”

Those thoughts floating in his mind, Archer smiled in self derision. He knew the cause of the girl’s anxieties, and it was none other than himself. An inhuman monster was so close. To make matters worse, inhuman monsters possessing unimaginable power sought to take their lives.

They couldn’t help but be worried about that, be terrified of that. It was natural. They may have been born into a mage’s household, but they were still children, barely ten.

The resolution to walk down that road, the significance of that resolution… They were too young to understand, and they did not have enough time to gain the power to walk. That was exactly why they had to be protected. I may not be their parent, but as an adult I have the power to protect children.

“But still…”

He couldn’t take a single step from this place, let alone end this battle. It was pathetic.

“…What can I do…?”

He had decided to become a sword, for the sake of the children. To end this battle without delay, he would do what he had to- attack. And so, he needed… A guardian. Something with enough strength to protect the two here at this house.

But under present conditions, all Archer could think of was one person… Kotomine Kirei.

“…No way.”

The words of curse Archer had received from him that day swept over his mind, and he was forced to abandon that choice. He could trust his strength, but couldn’t trust him. For the same reason, he couldn’t force the two to abandon their Command Spells and entrust them to the church.

Archer meditated on a efficient method to protect the two and go on the offensive at the same time.

But in the hands that had raced to the battlefield alone and lived leaving behind who was important to him, he could not have both. Abandon something to protect something important. That was all.

He could not do that.

His dead-end thinking tormented him, always and always. Outside of continuing to protect them while they were plagued with sad feelings, was there no other path?

Suddenly-

“…Abzug Bedlenung Mittelstand.”

A command word to unlock the main entrance. The Bowman’s acute hearing picked up the murmuring all the way from the gate. His falcon eyes immediately seized their target. A brown coat draped over a stylish black suit a British model might wear.

He was hidden beneath a large black umbrella, but his finely honed un-Japanese features that were both somehow mysterious yet possessing a certain grace and refinement were most definitely visible. Most conspicuous were those blue eyes. That perfectly clear blue resembled someone.

“…Rin?”

Those handsome features showed a discrepancy between male and female, but the man gave the same impression as Tohsaka Rin. A moment’s hesitation, and then a disturbance. The man was-

“–!?”

Suddenly, a strong presence radiated from the man. He directed a sharp, blue gaze towards Archer, up in the tree. Had he perceived him in spirit form?

Whether he saw him or not, Archer could not escape the man’s eyes. For a while the two exchanged glares. They competed in the strength of their gazes, but the implication of why they could not move was different for each.

In response to the spiritual body possessing inhuman fighting strength right before his eyes, he could find no method of attack. That was what the man thought.

Wavering on whether to commence battle at this present time, or not. That was foremost in the Bowman’s mind.

Time was frozen. Both were at a loss. What broke the silent exchange of glares was not the men themselves but the girl standing at the window- Rin.

When the man noticed Rin, for just one moment, a look he would give an impossibly precious person floated to the surface. But from there the man’s expression transformed into a terrifyingly cool one. The face of a magician who would abandon all for the sake of his objective.

The distance in confrontation between Archer and the man, the girl at the center. The moment the man realized Archer was closer, he took a step forward and readied himself to battle.

To protect the girl, he would oppose a Servant. He would bet his own life to protect someone- It was clear.

“…Ah.”

Those eyes, that look. A straightforwardness… His hypocrisy was no match for it. It held the clear affection of a parent who would protect their child.

*Throb*

For just an instant, his eyes raced to the young girl at the window… to the weary expression she wore on her face. Archer knew that face could make a gentler, more brilliant smile.

Yes, that was why. The person who made her have such a sad expression can’t stay here any longer. He understood.

To confront Archer, the man was preparing for battle, the materials taking form inside his coat. The movements free of hesitation, the chanting of spells; the man was an old hand at this. At the very least, he was an accomplished magician, undoubtedly of master class.

The magical specialty of the Tohsaka was converting power, the use of their tools first class. As far as Archer could guess of the stock of maintained equipment and treasured artifacts, the man would probably lose to no one if he fought defending this place. He was a man who could be trusted to protect those two. That was all. It was everything.

Then I’ll go. I am a blade that exists for the master’s sake. I exist to smite the enemy.

“Take care of yourselves, Rin and Sakura.”

Kicking off the tree trunk, Archer leapt into the air. Half substantiated, he wiped the thin rain that hit his skin and ran toward the battlefield underneath the clouds. He left behind him the warm home of the Tohsaka’s that he had spent a year in.

Tohsaka Tokiomi, dumbfounded at the sudden disappearance of the strong presence but relieved at the threat’s passing, brushed the raindrops from his coat and adjusted the collar of his suit, then entered the front door.

Now. To go see my daughter’s face.

Together With House Husband, Part 2, Chapter 31.
Holding his wounded body, the Bowman breaks into a run. He has found a protector.

His self is a blade, a blade that serves only to defeat all enemies.

Higurashi When They Cry: Curse Killing Arc Vol 01 – Thoughts & Impressions

Tiamat's Disciple — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:27:25 -0800

Many thanks to Yen Press for providing a review copy

About the Mangaka

This series is a collaboration between Ryukishi07 who, as well as doing the original game, does the story. And Houjyou Yutori who does the art.

Ryukishi07 is the pen name of a member of a doujin group called 07th Expansion. They are famous for their visual novels, of which Higurashi is the most famous. You can check out their website here (NSFW & Japanese).

Suzuki Jiro has two other pieces of work, I, Otaku and Magical Muso. Though he has worked on several other projects in one form or another. He does however have a website, be warned it’s all in japanese and potentially NSWF

About the Manga

What a horrid cover, and sadly the art is just as bad inside. I almost didn’t finish reading it because the art was so bad.

Jiro is a gawd awful artist, yet he does have a few good moments. For example this volume starts with several pages of colour panels, and these are I admit very well drawn.

Sadly the quality tends to go down rather rapidly. For me in a way it’s the same issue that Goong has, over use of chibi and comic style characters, and use of said designs at the wrong time.

However this volume also suffers from character design inconsistencies, especially with Satoko. She has so many designs in this volume I wondered if a group of different mangaka were really doing the drawing rather than just one.

The other aspect that really disappointed me was the creep factor. Several times in this volume we have a “creepy” moment, and for the first time I didn’t feel like it was a creepy scene.

Only the first unrelated time, when the “curry demon” makes her appearance, are the creepy eyes done well. However in this scene it’s still more comical than creepy, so it fails.

The other times when we’re supposed to be getting scared of the demon aspects making an appearance, we aren’t. In fact for the first time we have an arc that can only be described as flat.

Sadly, it doesn’t end there, the other characters are also changed. The most notable being Rena, who for some reason goes through a short term total redrawing. In fact if I wasn’t consciously aware that this person was supposed to be Rena, I would have been wondering who she was.

Ultimately, this volume fails almost completely. As I said the sole exceptions being the colour panels and pages at the front.

Unfortunately even the story itself seems to be a bit well, flat this arc. As I read through the volume I didn’t feel the awe that the previous arcs had managed to provoke. I was also unable to really “get into” the story.

I’m a weirdo, I’ll admit it, when I read novels and manga, I tend to get really drawn into them and lose track of reality. I personally feel it’s the best sign of an excellent writer if they’re able to draw in their readers and cause them to forget reality, and submerse them in the story.

This volume didn’t have this, rather little things such as the kettle boiling, cat jumping on my knees, or the movie ending all interrupted my reading. This is an unusual thing for me, and I hate it. I like to be submersed and lose all track of reality and time.

Part of the problem I believe is that this time there’s to much focus on the comical aspects of the story. It spends to much time trying to make you laugh, rather than trying to draw you in. As a result it fails on both levels, as I didn’t find anything about the volume funny.

This is one of those rare times when both art and story are so far out of whack it’s almost comical in and of it’s self.

I can’t really comment on Yen Press’ handling of the volume, since it’s so bad it’s hard to judge. However the way it flows and feels is the same as always, so I get the feeling the volume was just bad to start with.

As always though Yen do provide some translation notes explaining the terms used. These aren’t essential, but I do like them since it increase understanding of the scene and its relevance.

For the first time I have a Higurashi volume I think should be avoided, but I’ll wait till I’ve read the next volume before I decide. If it’s as bad as this one was this Arc will be dropped from my Essential Read list, and probably go on my Junk Pile.

Where to Buy

Brits: Play.com or Amazon UK
Yanks: Borders or Amazon US
Canadians: Chapters or Amazon CA

Zombie Loan Volume 07 – Thoughts & Impressions

Tiamat's Disciple — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:29:49 -0800

Many thanks to Yen Press for providing a review copy

About the Mangaka

The mangaka this time is rather unusual, since Peach-Pit is actually a female duo. Sendo Banri and Ebara Shibuko have had success after success, though they did go through three other group names, before settling for Peach Pit. Every piece of work they have done has gone on to become both a hit as a manga, and a hit as an anime. DearS, Rozen Maiden have been licensed, both in anime and manga format. Only Shugo Chara and Zombie Loan’s anime remain unlicensed. Their other work, is a a series of short comics called, Peach-Pit’s Three Titles Collaboration Comic, and mixes the characters from the three big manga, DearS, Rozen Maiden, and Zombie Loan. This is also unlicensed, though unconfirmed rumours stated that at one point it was picked up by Tokyopop.

About the Manga

Another awesome volume from Peach-Pit, though in the grand scheme of things not a lot really happens.

I have to say it, the colour panels of Michiru is just so damned cute!! When I first started to read this series I wasn’t overly keen on her design, but now I absolutely love it. This panel (which is just the cover image without a background admittedly), shows off just how cute Michiru is.

All of my favourite characters make appearances in this volume, I was really shocked to se Bekkou drawn differently, he had a weird and rather cool look this time around.

The art of Peach-Pit is the same as always, sadly with the same flaws as usual, but lets face it we don’t seriously expect mangaka to change over night. Rather we get to see the changes slowly happen over the course of a few volumes. This is no different, as the volume progresses some of the little things I didn’t like are subtly changed, smoothed out and become more polished. This gives the characters themselves a more polished and sharper feel.

There isn’t really much in the way of story development this volume, but we do get some intriguing character developments.

Michiru is by far the strangest this volume, while she was always strange, I never thought she would be anything more than having the ability to see zombies. However this volume blows this completely away, as we’re given hints that Michiru may well be something more than anyone has thought so far.

My favourite character Yomi takes centre stage as well this volume, and we get a sort of explanation into who she is,as well as to what powers she may be hiding. though nothing solid is given, it’s all hints which is awesome since it gets you thinking.

Finally we have Akatsuki, initially I thought we were getting some development from him, and we do get some. Insights into his past, which are revelations in their own right, but most of his time seems to me to be about Michiru’s powers.

I’m really looking forward to how Peach-Pit take this series, since we have four different sides stirring the pot. with hints of a fifth as well.

Yen Press did their usual awesome job again, with only some minor guttering around a few pages. The translation was smooth and flowed consistently with nothing leaping out as wrong. That said there is panel where the ‘Undertaker’ recites a Buddhist chant. This was left in what I’m going to assume was Kanji or Hiragana. I’d of preferred that to have been in at least a readable script, or at the very least a translation note. I just would have liked to know what he was saying, even if it was just nonsense.

Also on the translation pages there’s a bit at the top called ‘Staff’ that lists the various japanese staff. I’ve no idea why but for some reason Yen decided to go for a black font on a black background. Result: All but unreadable.

All said and done though I did enjoy the volume, and have a slew of new ideas to ponder over while I wait for the next volume. Which I can’t wait for!!

Where to Buy

Brits: Play.com or Amazon UK
Yanks: Borders or Amazon US
Canadians: Chapters or Amazon CA

On Valkyria Chronicles

ritchan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:17:17 -0800

Together with House-Husband, Part 2, Story 30 (Interlude 3-5) – Two Hands: Endings.

Xephfyre — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:37:50 -0800

Together with House-Husband, Part 2, Story 30 (Interlude 3-5) – Two Hands: Endings.

The eyes of my younger sister before me gazed at me strongly. She stared at me with eyes full of faith.

“Nee-san, I… I knew! It wouldn’t get through, it wouldn’t reach… I just cried, so my feelings wouldn’t reach someone else! There were things that would come back… when he held my hand…! That I was a hated, and worthless child… The wall I had been building… That was all it was, but… I couldn’t do that, so… I was all alone, and it hurt…”

…Ah.

“But, the reason I could think that was… because… because you always, always held my hand, Nee-san! I was always clutching my knees and crying by myself, but… You took my hand, and made me stand up…”

“You would tell me… ‘Don’t be scared, it’s fine!’… and… ‘Don’t let those things get you down, Sakura, you’re not alone!’… You told me all those things…!”

Oh.

I had believed. Father, and Sakura too. I had believed everyone could be happy. That was why I hadn’t let go of Sakura’s hand. We tried to walk forward. Because someday we’d be able to reconcile.

No one attempts to reach an ending filled with unhappiness. They want to smile. They want to see others smile. I had prayed for the world around me to be full of smiling faces. I had wished to be happy.

I could walk, I could go forward, I could go the distance.

“Sniff… So, Nee-san… W-, with Archer-san…”
“…Stop.”
“Ah… Sniff… What…?”
“Sakura… You’re amazing.”
“…Eh?”

Sakura’s small hand, the hand that had only been able to wipe away the overflowing tears in her room that day, had cleaned, cooked, and lived a life with everyone. But above all that, that hand had become able to save someone. She knew the terror of being alone better than anyone. That’s why being together with the person who was precious to you…. was something she kept wishing for.

That would be considered weak. But in truth, it was something strong. Believing and relying on someone was something she could do exactly be she felt it with all her heart. Sakura’s hands wouldn’t lose someone important to her.

Then, what could I, who could only go forward, do? If I stopped I couldn’t go anywhere; I could only keep going forward. What could I do?

What could these two hands do?

Yes… It’s obvious, isn’t it?

These two hands could fight. They would never run away. They would simply push on.

These two hands would shake off any sad feelings- That was their power.

If there was an obstacle, I just had to plough through it, right?

“…Yeah… Alright!”

*Slap!*

I clapped my face with both hands and brushed away my foolish hesitation. Not like me? Of course. I was always walking further and further ahead with what I learned. Doing nothing but going forward was how I fought. The answer may only lie in the future, then. My worries may lie ahead.

My happy end was to come!

Then I’ll break right through my problems. Aware of my worries and regrets, I just had to plunge forward!

“N-, Nee-san?”

Sakura’s tears ceased, surprised at my sudden odd behavior.

“I’ve never been worried. I don’t know what my dream is. That’s why I just move forwards. Dreams, hopes, the future… The person that I love… I’ll get them all back, and have a happy ending! That’s who I am… Sakura. That’s who Tohsaka Rin is!”

“Ah…!”

Her eyes clouded with tears, Sakura’s whole face transformed into a smile.

“Okay!”

I had one thing to do. Make up… with Archer!

Tohsaka Rin’s Holy Grail War starts from there on out!

Interlude Out.

Together With House Husband, Part 2, Chapter 30. Interlude 3-5.
Indecision and answers always lie within yourself. If you examine yourself, there they’ll be. You can feel that you love yourself.

Whether you notice later, or not.

Can the sisters, who pray for the future more than anyone else, rescue the knight who despairs for the past?

Together with House-Husband, Part 2, Story 29 (Interlude 3-4) – Two Hands: Beginnings.

Xephfyre — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:11:16 -0800

Together with House-Husband, Part 2, Story 29 (Story 3-4) – Two Hands: Beginnings.

Just how much time passed after that? When I came to, the room was dark. It was already the middle of the night.

“N-, Nee-san?”

In that dark room, from the direction of the round table by the window side, I could hear Sakura’s voice. I replied in a small voice, lying face down.

“…What?”
“I think green peppers taste good now… Did you know that?
“…Huh?”

I raised the upper half of my body and turned to face her. There, with a somehow proud-looking face, Sakura… Was smiling.

“If you cut them up into pieces and stir-fry them really well, most of the bitterness goes away. I heard they go in all kinds of different types of stir-fry.”
“…Wow. Eh? Then… Why are peppers on my plate bitter?”
“Hee hee… Archer-san might have been simply being mean to you.”
“Wha… Wait, you’re in the kitchen too, aren’t you, Sakura?”
“But I asked Archer-san to let my do if myself.”
“Eh, huuuuuh!? D-, Do mine too!”
“He said ‘Leave Rin alone until she notices. When it comes to trying to change the status quo, the result should come swooping down on her’. Eh heh heh, he was praising you, you know?”

After she said that, I stuck my tongue out mischievously at Sakura. You’re nasty every now and then, Sakura. I wonder if you resent me a little.

“…You know, Nee-san.”
“What!? Boo, boo!”
“I wonder how much we don’t know about the other person… I wonder how many of the words in their heart we don’t understand…”
“…Huh?”
Sakura made a lonely looking face. Sakura…?

“Earlier… Father held my hand.”
“Ah… Yeah, he did, now that you mention it.”
“Nee-san, I…”

“It was the first time… He’s ever held my hand.”

“…What?”
“It was warm, and his hand was big. It was a little rugged… and it felt wonderful.

Sakura… Held her tiny left hand to her chest, as though she was clutching something precious.

“I always do nothing but cry, and I’m a bad kid… So I never thought…. Father would hold my hand, or pat my head, or even talk to me.”
“…Wha-…! That’s not true at…!”
“But… Father’s hand earlier, made me wonder where those feelings of mine had gone… It was so kind, and they held me so gently… So I was happy, and I tried to hold on to him strongly. I… I…!”

Sakura’s eyes brimmed with tears. Large drops fell, as if the feelings she had saved up and hadn’t communicated thus far were all appearing on her face.

“F-, Father… hugged me too. He… He… hugged me back. I was so happy, and I hugged him over, and over… and he held me too…”

She tightly pressed the palm of her hand against her chest, as if it might prevent the remaining warmth from disappearing.

“I, I… was so happy… I don’t care… about why he didn’t talk to me… and ignored… me…!”
“Sa-… Sakura…”
“There were so many things… I wanted to say…! S-, so many things… I want to ask…! I really wanted to talk with Father, so much… so, so… Nee-san, I…”

Ah… I… Forced Sakura… To come with me.

“S-, Sakura… I’m sorry… I…”
“N-, no, you’re wrong…! Th-, that’s not… it.”

Sakura hastily shook her head and raised her downcast eyes to set them on me.

Those tear filled eyes, which had always relied on others and did nothing but cry, shone… they shone with a firm, strong faith in something.

Together With House Husband, Part 2, Chapter 29. Interlude 3-4.
There are things that won’t come true no matter how much you want them, no matter how much you believe in them. But, did all of those feelings… really reach the other?

One’s feelings and desires. Did they reach the person you wanted them to reach?

Relief that will soon come. Whether its granted or not, salvation for the heart is something that will not come about as just a result. As long as there are lights of hope on the path people continue to walk downwards, they can walk anywhere.

Together with House-Husband, Part 2, Story 28 (Interlude 3-3) – Back.

Xephfyre — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:56:26 -0800

Together with House-Husband, Part 2, Story 28 (Interlude 3-3) – Back.

Father stood up, took our hands, and started to walk.

Our father was a refined, faultless gentleman. He was awkward with children, but his normal behavior was already incredibly impressive. His profile as he pulled us along didn’t have a single trace of the weakness from earlier- It was an amazing face.

Yes, we had always been protected. He had protected us. He was by no means a tender father, but the feelings he felt for us were the real thing. Those feelings were gentle and kind, so, even when he had left on his trip, we were able to keep going.

The Holy Grail War. Victory in the war, that which the Tohsaka family desired over all else, was what I thought Father’s dream was. Living for nothing else than that purpose was natural for a magician. Throwing away everything for your dream… that was the way a magus lived.

Despite that, he was truly a good father, and he had honestly tried to live for our sakes. That’s why he went on his journey. To make sure he was prepared for a battle he might die in.

Finally, he was here. If we had to fight, he would try and shoulder this responsibility instead.

Things were hopeless like this. That was how I felt.

“Umm… Father?”
“What is it, Rin?”
…Is Archer… Outside? Archer is…”
“…Archer. The Servant of the Bow you two summoned. So the leftover presence when I reached that house was that…”

Ah… He was here! He was here just a little bit ago!

“Hmm. Rin, how many commands seals do you have left?”
“Huh? …Umm… Two.”
“No extras, huh. You can’t waste them. Rin, use those carefully. Losing all of them means losing your qualification as a Master… It may even mean the Servant turning their fangs on the Master.”
“…Huh?”

Archer, turn on us?

“Servants are beings drawn into reality to make a wish on the Holy Grail. It’s tyranny when that strength becomes power. Because their wish can come true, they have a purpose in choosing a master in order to win the war. So in order to abandon a powerless master, they’ll try and force them to use their command spells. That’s their lifeline. You two don’t have enough experience to survive this war. When you use up your command spells, the Servant Archer may kill you.”

My father spoke to us without turning around. I was stood shocked at the words that struck my ears.

Archer would kill us?

A deep red back, covered in blood. Something that would and could kill someone. That presence, that being, was so, so frightening… The Archer we had found that night was like a different person from the one we had been together with.

But, even so…

“No. Archer wouldn’t do something like that.”
“……”
“He would never do that.”
“……”

Suspicious of my obstinacy, Father stopped walking.

That was one thing I could not surrender.

“He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t do that. He just wouldn’t.”
“……”
“He… Always protected us!”
“…Are you sure that wasn’t just a trick?”
“—!”

At that one word, I flew into a rage.

At my father, who had said it. And at myself.

Those feelings of believing in Archer. As I long as I was me, I had to protect them.

“He would never do that!!!”

I shook off the hand that held me and shouted in a loud voice. Taking advantage of my dumbfounded Father, I took Sakura’s hand from the other side.

“Ahh….”

For a moment, Sakura looked between Father and I. But then she closed her eyes and bit her lip, and came with me. We ran up the stairs.

“……”

Leaving my Father, his eyes wide, we dived into our room, Sakura, a frown on her face, jumping straight into the bed.

“……”

I stared at the command seal on the back of my right hand. Archer was alive. He was still doing the best he could.

He definitely… Couldn’t feel that. He thought… Just being here scared us.

He was sarcastic, and rude. He was always scolding us, and he was a bully, but… Archer was kind. He was so, so kind. I knew that. I knew all of that. And still.

“…Uuuu…”

It was my fault. I had been a child. I had been a coward.

I had lost sight of my own strength, of the feelings of saying I would walk down this path of the mage.

I… had hurt the person who saved us from loneliness so much.

I had lived my own way, as who I was. I had no doubts about doing that. I had faced things with all the strength I had, and enjoyed myself. That was fun, it was clean, it was happiness. It was a beautiful treasure.

But still… With my own hands… I had hurt the most important treasure of all…

Together With House Husband Part 2, Chapter 28, Interlude 3-3.
Happiness and joy; a life true to one’s self that she could be proud was what Tohsaka Rin had chosen. That was why at her first taste of frustration, she did not know what to do.

She lost sight of the dreams of a mage and that resolution. She felt frightened of that path… and she had hurt the person she cherished so.

Together with House-Husband, Part 2, Story 27 (Interlude 3-2) – Tohsaka.

Xephfyre — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:42:32 -0800

Together with House-Husband, Part 2, Story 27 (Interlude 3-2) – Tohsaka.

The House of Tohsaka was a noted family of heretics whose bloodline could be traced as far back as the ancestor Kishua Zelretch Schweinorg, the Gem Master.

With nearly two hundreds years of history as a line of sorcerers, they continued to protect their lifeblood even as the blood of outsiders mingled with theirs.

The Tohsaka were kin who attempted to reach the Root by continuing to train themselves. For the Tohsaka family, that was success, with no exceptions.

Creating a vessel to hold the magical power of a false Holy Grail, aiming towards the Root as an end result. Two hundred years in the distant past, along with specters from the north that had been possessed by the quest for the Grail, they simply lent aid to magicians of strange lands who had failed to bring their own dreams to fruition. Triumph was the essence of the Tohsaka, no matter the struggle. Winning was natural, when it challenged to invincible Tohsaka will. They started no quarrels themselves, but returned challenges from others many times over. Then they would take everything worthwhile for themselves.

Consequently, victory in the Holy Grail War was an obligation of the Tohsaka family. It was simple logic. The fifth head of the Tohsaka Family, Tohsaka Tokiomi, naturally abided by this as well, and left on a journey for the purpose of victory. He went to prepare for battle.

Well… No matter how well prepared you are, if you are not in time for the signal gun, there is no meaning in it.

They had not forgotten what appeared from the other side of the opened door. It was a face they knew well. A sculpted, dandyish face, one that looked completely “Un-Japanese” in appearance. An countenance that always bore a look of severity. It was this face that they had never once seen smile.

Even so, he was in truth gentle. His look, thinking of us, helplessly clumsy but kind, was the same as when he had begun his journey. He stared at us now as well.

“…Father?”

The magical ammunition in my hand fell to the floor. The strength left my stiffened body and it crumpled to the floor.

“…Yes.”

When he released my back from his embrace with a gentleness somehow befitting the situation, my father showed a slightly apologetic look in his eyes, and said…

“I’m home. Rin… Sakura.”

Sitting face-to-face on the living room sofa, our father heard the current situation from us. I say us, but since Father had returned Sakura hadn’t said a single word, so I was the only one to speak.

“…I see.”

When he had finished listening to the story, Father gazed at us after his face had twisted in his usual sour look.

“As the head of the Tohsaka family, I have something to tell you two.”

A heavy, leaden voice. Even Sakura, her head down, adjusted her posture.

“You two are Masters. You were chosen as magicians for the purpose of winning the Holy Grail War. This is an undeniable fact. …Rin, Sakura. As members of the Tohsaka household, defeat is unacceptable. Retreat is unacceptable. We have aspired to heresy, and strode forth into this battle. A quest to one day reach the Root… The Holy Grail War is a means to that. Turning your eyes away from that would be the same as renouncing your own lives. Thus, you two must fight.”

I trembled. My back shook. My father had declared that we were part of the battle now beyond the point of return.

Stained in blood in battle. The red back, his entire body covered in wounds, but still protecting others.

My hands quivered. My shoulders trembled. My stomach grew heavy. I wanted to cry. But I endured it. I had to.

“…But.”

My father knitted his eyebrows, seemingly in pain. As though he was bearing something hopeless, he furrowed his brow. That was… A side of my father I had never seen before. My father, who never showed any signs of weakness, made, for the first time, a vulnerable expression.

He then rose off the couch, and came right in front of us. With both his arms, he strongly embraced Sakura and I.

“Ahh…”
“…What…”

It was too much for Sakura and I; no words came. It was the first time our father… Had ever held us like this. He held us so strongly it was painful. But his trembling shoulders… Somehow looked so weak. I couldn’t say anything.

“…I’ll protect you. I’ll protect you two of you. That’s why you don’t have to worry about anything. Just stay inside.”

My father spoke and then separated from us, vigorously rubbing our heads. It was painful, but that strength was somehow… Very gentle.

Together With House Husband, Part 2, Chapter 27. Interlude 3-2.
The father returns. The fifth head of the Tohsaka family, Tohsaka Tokiomi.

An accomplished jewel user, he was acknowledged as a great magus by the Magic Association as the disciple of a magic user.

Despite being acknowledged as thus, he possessed a hereditary curse, and scorn was heaped upon him.