Yet more obsessive Kenshin marathonning

[dangermousie]

"No matter how strong you get, you are only human. There is no need for you to become either a Buddha or a murderer."

I. Love. Hiko. He can definitely fix a lot of Kenshin's issues and his martyr complex. Plus, he has a lot more balanced approach to life than Kenshin's headlong idealism. I think, it's because for all his reserve, Kenshin is deeply passionate (no, I didn't mean it that way, though for all I know, that way too). That's actually probably why he is so reserved.

Also, that moment where Kaoru is outside the hut where Kenshin and Hiko are and she just freezes, and can't knock on the door, and then Yahiko and Misao kick in the door and Kenshin turns and he is startled to see Yahiko and Misao but his eyes just completely go past them and fasten on Kaoru. He whispers "Kaoru...dono" as he sees Kaoru standing there and they just look at each other, and you see Kaoru reflected in his eyes and...guuuuuh.

How can freaking animation move me so? Or be so romantic?

And then Yahiko and Misao are all "what are you going to do, Kaoru? Why did you come? Do you want to take him back to Tokyo, or fight alongside him, or confess your feelings for each other" (is there any need to do the latter? Anyone blind can tell what they feel. Heck, Kenshin can tell what she feels). And Kaoru says she doesn't know, she just wanted to see him once more.

And then Kenshin returns from the river and as he and Hiko walk away for training, she asks him if he is angry they came. And he doesn't have any of his amiable mannerisms or anything like that and he really answers the question, no evasions, or lies, or compliments. He tells her that half of him is angry, but the other half is relieved. And OMG, they are such a huge OTP of mine, it's scary.

ETA: Frak! Aoshi! You not only just allied yourself with Shishio, you said it's OK with you if they capture and torture Okina for info. You know, your fellow Oniwabanshu? They guy you left Misao with, who's taken care of her for years and who she regards as family? Because finding Kenshin is all that matters? This is one hell of a screwed-up priority list: dead people you want to appease or atone to as more important than your living friends and comrades? Grrrrrr. Especially since we get that flashback to when you left Misao in Okina's care and went off with your four followers, and you were one hell of a great guy. Heck, even Shishio and his henchmen can tell you are mentally broken. If you ever snap out of this, you are going to be miserable. On a major scale.

Comments

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Hiko understands Kenshin so perfectly it's scary. He knows that Kenshin can't do things by halves, so when he becomes a murderer, he becomes one heck of a bloodthirsty one and when he tries to redeem himself he goes completely martyr. While I love Saito's flat pragmatism, Hiko can cut through the crap like no other character. I'm sure if he knew Aoshi he'd have a few choice words to say to him too.

The Kenshin/Kaoru OTP is why I refuse to watch the Samurai X OVAs. I know it's supposed to all be part of the story, but the story ends ugly and I like the characters too much to watch it all fall apart for them.

If you ever snap out of this, you are going to be miserable. On a major scale.

And how.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

And how.

Yay. I am glad. Because I just got to the point where he fought Okina and either killed him or severely wounded him. And Misao saw him for the first time in years, at the precise moment he delivered the strike. And then he walked by her like she didn't exist and when she asked why he told her to get lost and to tell Kenshin to meet him. I want to smack him SO HARD, his teeth would rattle.

The Kenshin/Kaoru OTP is why I refuse to watch the Samurai X OVAs. I know it's supposed to all be part of the story, but the story ends ugly and I like the characters too much to watch it all fall apart for them.

I know. I read the summaries and my only reaction was RAGE. (I have yet to see an OVA of anything I'd like, but this one took the cake). Besides, didn't the manga author say that K/K were supposed to get a HEA? So it's not only misery for the sake of misery, it's also contra authorial intent. So no way am I touching it with 10 foot pole.

Hiko understands Kenshin so perfectly it's scary.

I think it's because he brought him up. And of course, Kenshin's early life experience probably exacerbated any natural tendencies he had. His burning desire to not have injustice and not being able to see it probably stems from it. But yes, I think on many levels Hiko and Saito are a bit similar and very practical and hate extremes. And I'd pay to see Hiko deliver and Aoshi smack-down.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

The only OVA I've ever seen and really enjoyed is Gundam Wings simply because it cleared up what happened to a lot of the characters in a nice neat package.

Kenshin and Aoshi end up as friends by the end. Kenshin sort of makes friends out of the oddest people, but somehow it works (two characters who will never be friends are Sano and Saito, but they sort of are civil with each other to a degree for Kenshin's sake).

Hiko could very ably deliver a smackdown to Aoshi considering Kenshin can beat him and Hiko is one of the few people who can give Kenshin a run for his money if not a whupping.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Kenshin must have mad people skills. It's the whole "you tried to kill me, but you aren't now, so we are friends." It must be the relentless good humor that wears you down :)

And Sano and Saito are definitely oil and water...

Hiko could very ably deliver a smackdown to Aoshi considering Kenshin can beat him and Hiko is one of the few people who can give Kenshin a run for his money if not a whupping.

Which just highlights the monomonaical and nonsensical nature of Aoshi's quest. Defeat Kenshin blah blah, but Kenshin might not even be the strongest, Hiko might. So what's the point. That guy needs severe therapy and drugs.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I love Saito's constant antagonism of Sano. Saito is completely unable to be ruffled by Sano, but Sano just goes to pieces when Saito pushes the right buttons. Sano shows his 19 years when faced with Saito's more mature goading.

I think it's the fact that Aoshi is an obsessive personality and needs SOMETHING to fixate on and make his friend's sacrifice worth something. It's too much for him to consider that him just being himself and doing good is enough. It's like he has to PROVE he was worth saving. And just because Kenshin is the strongest visible opponent doesn't mean there aren't better, Hiko being the most obvious choice for pwning everyone in the series. Aoshi doesn't GET it until his second confrontation with Kenshin. Aoshi, Kenshin and Sano are all driven by guilt to so extent or another. It controls them (Sano probably the least because he's the youngest, but still somewhat). It's the guilt free men, Saito because he's so stinking ruthless and Hiko simply because he's stayed out of the mix for the most part, that actually seem relatively happy and make rational choices (fighting with a reverse blade sword is NOT a rational choice, no matter how cool it looks)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Sano shows his 19 years when faced with Saito's more mature goading.

It's totally uneven playing ground, of course. I adore Sano, but he is so emotionally vulnerable and Saito isn't at all. Saito can ruffle Kenshin, after all.

It's too much for him to consider that him just being himself and doing good is enough. It's like he has to PROVE he was worth saving.

Do you know, I never thought about it, but now that you've pointed out, you are so absolutely right. Aoshi feels all that guilt (and seeing your friends take bullets for you would fuck anyone up) and he doesn't realize they would be horrified to see what he turned into. They wouldn't want him to go rogue and go against everything he stood for and they loved him for. He doesn't realize that it's his actions that are making their sacrifice in vain, as opposed to making it worth something.

Aoshi is kinda on a Kenshin path, only he is driven by personal emotion as opposed to abstract idealism. I'd imagine if he ever snaps out of it, his fall will be just as hard, too.

fighting with a reverse blade sword is NOT a rational choice, no matter how cool it looks

Indeed. Kenshin can't let go of his skills. But he can't use them fully either. Talk about being caught between two worlds.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Saito can ruffle Kenshin, after all.

And you can tell Saito gets a kick out of rattling people's cages. Oddly enough, that trait is evident in both PMK Saito and RK Saito.

I adore Sano, but he is so emotionally vulnerable and Saito isn't at all.

It's easy to forget that Sano is still a teenager which explains a lot of his dense behavior from time to time. But then, Sano's personality is always going to be at a loss when it comes someone like Saito since Sano really is a big, friendly, ultimately trustful lug while you can almost see Saito's mental gymnastics trying to get him the best advantage in a situation. Sano's just outclassed there.

They wouldn't want him to go rogue and go against everything he stood for and they loved him for.

That's the thing with Aoshi, as crazy as he gets he's still ultimately a good guy at heart. Very derailed for a while, but with a good moral compass. He took his leadership role very seriously though, and in letting his men down everything that he is is sort of shattered.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

in letting his men down everything that he is is sort of shattered.

There are safer ways to have an existential crisis, but I think what he really needs to come to terms with (and since I am all about spoilers and I know he makes up with Kenshin, I assume he does) is that there was nothing he could do to save them. It's feeling of powerlessness that drives him, and why he wants to kill Kenshin, as if to have someone to blame and then to kill that someone will show that Aoshi still has control. Aoshi is all about control after all, so acknowledging that sometimes you can do your best and still get screwed by fate is really hard for him. And then of course there is guilt because not only did his men die for him, he is the one who took the job with the Gatling Gun nutter (Kanryuu?) in the first place.

That's the thing with Aoshi, as crazy as he gets he's still ultimately a good guy at heart.

And RK wants us to remeber that too (it's pretty significant that right before Aoshi agrees to killing or torture of Okina, it flashbacks to younger Aoshi leaving Misao with Okina and going off with his men). That's why I feel so bad when he joins Shishio or does horrible things like almost kill Okina. Because if Seta or whoever does bad stuff, I don't feel bad outside of feeling sorry for the people they maul. But every time Aoshi does something horrid, not only do I feel bad for the victim(s), I feel horrible for Aoshi because I know he is better than this.

In a way, Aoshi is sort of acting like Kenshin during the Bakumatsou. Kenshin didn't hate the people he was assigned to kill. Didn't know them. But he didn't mind mowing others down in pursuit of his goal of a better world (Kenshin as Serenity's The Operative? hmmmm). He didn't see them as individuals. And the same is now true with Aoshi. He has no ill will towards Okina or whoever. But his goal is to get to Kenshin, and he doesn't care who he hurts in the way.

Sano really is a big, friendly, ultimately trustful lug

Heeee, makes me think of a puppy. Sano, in some ways, is closer to Yahiko than to Kenshin, character-wise.

I also decided I totally adore Misao. Because what does she do after seeing the man she idolizes almost kill her Grandpa figure in front of her eyes and tell her to get lost? She declares herself the Commander of the Oniwabanshu, despite her grandpa's letter telling her to disband them and have a normal life. And she says she'll take on anyone, even Aoshi (and yay, she dropped "Aoshi-sama" which I think signifies her illusions being shattered) to protect the group. The proper Commander might have gone Vader batty, but Misao won't let anything stop her. Yay.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

It's feeling of powerlessness that drives him, and why he wants to kill Kenshin

It's also why he becomes obsessive with the whole "strongest" thing. He was completely powerless then and his men died, therefore he's singleminded in becoming the strongest so it doesn't happen again. Ultimately a stupid goal since as you pointed out there are people stronger than Kenshin (if Hiko can pwn Kenshin while wearing his weighted cape, he can make piecemeal of Aoshi in minutes).

I feel horrible for Aoshi because I know he is better than this.

The same formula Star Wars used for Anakin. Knowing the character before they go bad changes your outlook entirely about them more so than even flashbacks do. You've already had your first impression of a character by using flashbacks, but if you know the character beforehand, you grieve for them going nuts more.

she dropped "Aoshi-sama" which I think signifies her illusions being shattered

And the fact that she goes back to him afterwards and still cares about him signifies to me that she cares about him more than just fangirling. By the end of the series she loves Aoshi for being Aoshi, not because she's idealized him. She recognizes that he can be just as wrong and as big of an idiot as anyone else.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

By the end of the series she loves Aoshi for being Aoshi, not because she's idealized him. She recognizes that he can be just as wrong and as big of an idiot as anyone else.

Yes. If she can still care for him after coming face to face with just how screwed up he can be, it's definitely not fangirling of a perfect knight. Which is why it was important for her to see Aoshi stike Okina for herself, and then dismiss her as if she was of no account. Because if she'd just saw the aftermath or heard of it, she'd have some wiggle room for her illusions. But not after this. And she needs to have her illusions of Aoshi to shatter to see him as a real, flawed person. And to mature.

I do love Aoshi/Misao because no matter how screwed up, it makes total sense. And Aoshi is a person who needs to have someone to take care of (the government jobs he turned down to stay with his men? That was just as much for his sake as theirs), and Misao is perfect for that. Because he can take care of her, but she is smart enough and good fighter enough not to be a burden.

I think she and Kaoru should form a club for 'repentant former killers and the short hyper women who love them.'

he can make piecemeal of Aoshi in minutes

For some reason I am now imagining Aoshi being turned into hash browns. It's a bizarre image, to say the least :)

Ultimately a stupid goal

He needs something to fixate on, but of course the stupidity is also in not thinking ahead. Let's say by some miracle he kills Kenshin. Then what? How does he invision the rest of his life? It won't make it any more bearable? In fact, it'll be worse since he'll have no goal.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Aoshi is a person who needs to have someone to take care of

I have no problem with the fact that Aoshi sort of raised her simply because he didn't raise her the whole time. She was a little girl when he left and now she's not. She obviously sees him more as a big brother figure than a father figure and never gives any impression otherwise. I don't really find that pairing weird at all. Misao is bubbly and stubborn and not easily put off by Aoshi's moods. The biggest issue is going to be Aoshi realizing he deserves Misao.

'repentant former killers and the short hyper women who love them.

Hee.

Both Misao and Kaoru end up going into their relationships with open eyes. Kaoru knows Kenshin is always going to have people coming after him and the Battousai is always going to be right underneath the surface. Misao knows that Aoshi is going to be broody and serious and hard to get along with (frankly I think Saito would be easier to deal with on a daily basis than Aoshi). Both women get that their men are complicated but don't mind.

Megumi's issues are more having to put up with Sano's thick headedness from time to time. Their relationship is going to be one endless cycle of fight-make up-sex.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

She was a little girl when he left and now she's not. She obviously sees him more as a big brother figure than a father figure and never gives any impression otherwise.

Oh yes. Any daughter-type feelings she has is for Okina, anyway.

I think this pairing is so opposites attract really: she is as bubbly and joyful and spontaneous as he is none of these things. But that's good, because two Misaos would kill each other and two Aoshis would just kill themselves. If they ever opened their mouths.

The biggest issue is going to be Aoshi realizing he deserves Misao.

At this rate, Kenshin is going to start teaching seminars :) Or actually, Kaoru is probably better for the task.

Both Misao and Kaoru end up going into their relationships with open eyes.

And I think ultimately that is the most important thing. You should have anything, as long as you know what you are getting into.

frankly I think Saito would be easier to deal with on a daily basis than Aoshi

Oh yeah. If you don't mind the rather unusual morals (because Saito does have morals, even if they don't correlate with normal ones) and ruthless pragmatism, Saito would be just fine.

Though I do think, while Aoshi is never going to be a barrel of laughs, he is bound to unwind a bit under Misao's influence.

Megumi's issues are more having to put up with Sano's thick headedness from time to time. Their relationship is going to be one endless cycle of fight-make up-sex.

And neither one is willing to give an inch :P I can actually see either one of them provoking a fight just for make-up sex.

I love my RK OTPs.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I can actually see either one of them provoking a fight just for make-up sex

Sadly enough I can see that too. And sadly enough both of them would probably do it about equally.

Of course Megumi needs someone who she can't bully around and isn't really deeply bothered by her pushiness. For all his irritability with her, Sano is never more than superficially annoyed and that's evident when you see him REALLY mad at her when she tries to kill herself. And for as much as Megumi picks at him for being a lazy bum (which he is), Sano needs a good kick in the pants from time to time and Megumi is the only female forceful enough to do it. Out of all the OTPs, Sano/Megumi is probably my favorite.

Saito would be just fine

I get the feeling that Saito's wife is both unflappable and intelligent. He doesn't seem the type to suffer fools or cowards lightly. Kenshin's Buddha assessment probably isn't really far from the truth.

two Aoshis would just kill themselves

They'd mope around for a long time before they finally did it though.

Aoshi is the original emo kid.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

They'd mope around for a long time before they finally did it though.

Now I have this image of Aoshi listening to bad rock and wearing torn t-shirts and having a big 'keep out' sign on his door and yelling at Okina that no one understands him. LOL.

Kenshin's Buddha assessment probably isn't really far from the truth.

Also, she seems to put up fine with his long-term absences and random bringing home of people. The way he says he is going to take that village kid to Tokio indicates that he doesn't think she'd be taken aback or anything to have her husband show up after weeks' absence with a strange kid.

Out of all the OTPs, Sano/Megumi is probably my favorite.

I love them, but it would be very unrestful in RL. I like more peace in daily interactions. But yes, Megumi is Stress Queen so she needs someone laid-back like Sano. And Sano needs someone poised and mature but who is on a level playing field with him (unlike e.g. female version of Saito which would just make him feel two years old).

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

image of Aoshi listening to bad rock and wearing torn t-shirts

He'd also have the emo glasses. And listen to a lot of Coldplay.

he doesn't think she'd be taken aback or anything to have her husband show up after weeks' absence with a strange kid.

And that's sort of why I like her without even knowing her. Anyone able to give Saito a run for his money has to be pretty cool. She's got to be a female Hiko or something. *imagines Hiko in drag* HA!

And Sano needs someone poised and mature but who is on a level playing field with him

And the very fact that Sano can really make Megumi lose her cool implies just how much he's gotten under her skin.

[autumnflame.livejournal.com]

1) Aoshi: "Feel the WINDS OF ANGST!!!!" *dramatic wind-fwoosh*

(alas, I can't take credit for the line. Unfortunately, I don't remember where I read it from. But it's never ceased to amuse me since.)

2) Misao: Yes yes /yes./ I love Misao second only after Megumi--they both have that kind of stubborn will and inner strength, coupled with a fierce devotion to the ones they love--they're fighters at the core, with the resilience to take blows and keep going, even if they're not necessarily fantastic at fighting, or even a physical fighter in the first place.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Re: 1. ROTFLOL. I can't wait to get to the part where Kenshin knocks some sense into the guy. Literally :)

2. I adore Misao. It's the fact that she is not a weakling or stupid, but she has this irresitable optimism and elasticity that will keep her going and not break no matter what. I adore Kaoru the best of all the RK female characters but Misao comes a close second. (I like Megumi a lot, but not as much as either of the other two).