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dadbodgintoki · 2 years

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gintama fic recs (hijigin+ edition)

this post is primarily for a friend of mine, when they eventually finish the series, but i thought it might be nice to compile some recs here for those who haven’t spent as much time wandering through ao3 as i have. i was gonna have all my recs in one place originally but then the post became like. incredibly fucking long so! instead i’m gonna split them by pairing/genre-ish and have multiple posts, starting with hijigin (+ some bonus). if you see your fic on here, let me know and i’ll link it back to your tumblr if you want! (and also, thank you for writing such a wonderful fic)

Recs under the cut!

Series: No One Looks At Series Titles So Call Them Whatever you Like, starting with When Life Gives You Lemons Make Sure To Save Them To Your Hard Drive, by Apathy and @saltedpin. Original is rated T, but sequel ratings vary.

He has no problem with the attention. It’s just that right now he’s receiving so damn much of it that it’s almost starting to get a little unnerving. It’s nothing he can’t deal with, of course, but the lingering stares, the whispering behind gently waving fans, and the barely audible giggling would, were he a weaker man, give him the screaming heebie-jeebies. Gintoki learns the hard way that there is a difference between good attention and bad attention.

Kids Who Don’t Play With Trains When They’re Young Will Never Grow Up to Become Skilled City Planners by Game_Changer. Rated T.

Two idiots engage in the longest, most utterly pointless con of the century for no particularly good reason. [General Gintama spoilers up to and including the Baragaki Arc.]

And the Gintoki-side companion piece to City Planners: If You Get a Big Enough Bookshelf, Gravestones Could Be Your Bookends. Rated T.

He doesn’t believe in ghosts, really. He might be the tiniest bit afraid of them though. Gintoki’s side of Kids Who Don’t Play With Trains.

Thirst Aid Kit by evils. Rated E.

Don't be intimidated, Gin-san...try to imagine him in his underwear!...Oh no, he's hot!

RSVP Even if You Aren't Sure You'll Make It, Just In Case; It's Better to Have More Chairs Than Less by @sharkiegorath. Rated E.

Hijikata has a problem and needs Gintoki's help

swallowing is overrated, just bring a handkerchief (a handkerchief you don't like) by @sharkiegorath. Rated E. (thx sharkie for the fic!)

Gintoki and Hijikata finally hook up and it's thoroughly disgusting.

Warmth by chrendon. Rated G.

Hijikata and Kagura bond. Gintoki is useless.

Don't Assume KOF Stands for King of Fighters. The F Might Stand for Something Else. by writing_in_the_dark. Rated E.

Gintoki and Hijikata became addicted to a smartphone game where they had GinHiji and HijiGin sex as their characters in the game. They were then told the only way to level up any farther was to have sex with each other in the real world. They didn’t really want to, but they were hopelessly addicted to the game and desperate to continue grinding their fighters. So, they fucked each other’s brains out, leveling up their fighters and finding out they liked each other a little more than they realized.

If You're Scared That No One Will Want You When You're Old And Ugly, Remember That You're Currently Young And Beautiful And No One Wants You Anyway by @cr-bat. Rated T.

The Yorozuya's latest job involves old gods, marriage issues, a sun that decides to stop setting, and way too much collateral damage. Sometimes Toushirou wondered what the point of surviving a homicidal immortal human-turned-demigod was if he was just going to end up slaughtering every Edo citizen himself out of pure frustration.

And also, for those of us who have a lot of hijigintsu/gintsu/hijitsu feelings:

the sun also rises series by @saltedpin starting with The kiss I would have spent on you. Both fics rated T.

There was no reason why the Demon Vice Commander and the Courtesan of Death should have crossed paths; and besides which, why would they have needed to, when Gintoki could so easily pass between both of their worlds, a gulf that had, at least until recently, seemed too vast to cross? Noble idiots attempt to out-noble idiot each other

shameless self promotion: if you give a mouse a cookie, you should probably ask if he's got any nut allergies beforehand by yours truly :). Very much rated E, lmao.

God, Gintoki thinks, please bring me the comfort of death. And, he adds, tell Kagura and Shinpachi I died from food poisoning or something. Gintoki makes a request of his partners. They oblige, in the most frustrating way possible.

#hijigin #gintama #main tags bc sure why tf not i spent like an hour on this and i have like 5 other posts ready to go #gintama fic recs #fic recs #(last one for my own organization)#okay fuck it i'm gonna go eat dinner now i'll format all the others later #if anyone wants to add anything pls do #UPDATE I SPENT SO LONG ON THESE BULLET POINTS AND THEY JUST WILL NOT FORMAT WHEN I POST????#pls for the love of god tumblr

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a-username-not-found · 3 years

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April Update

Thank you for bearing with me!

I am now free of busy days despite the remnants of some projects so

Within the month I shall complete the updates

Also, get ready for these incoming fanfics:

1. Little Red and Bastard Prince In which a twisted tale of scarlet flowers and sapphire stones unfolds beneath their shadows. Once upon a war, a bastard prince has conquered all that is liberated and faded to gray. But not this little red, no she has not. For the little red had freedom and secrets under her hood, and the bastard prince is yet to unveil the darkness lurking on his kingdom.

2. Spy X Kin

In which the adults play a game with guns and roses.

Twilight and Dusk received two emergency missions amidst a greater scope. At their expense, these missions involve myriad hurdles to Twilight's ongoing mission and bothersome duties to Dusk's supposed vacation. And it so happens that Yor has to reach out to a special someone in light of her client's request on the rumored kin. Not that Anya doesn't care, but how could she when she's troubled on her little inner dispute: Bond or Sadaharu?

In a world full of secrecy and deceiving identities, the truth will be their key to resolve each of their predicament.

Come, feast yourself in the playground of treasure and pleasure. Welcome to the Kabuki District.

3. Lost and Found in Each Other's Books

In which she plots his next pages and he unfolds her story.

4. The Heart of the Cosmos In which aliens want their existence be disproved and paranormal activities are not enough proof. Being a runaway and an immigrant in the same sentence doubles the trouble. What are the odds when everyone finds out? Let the games begin, the tension quadruple.

Characters:

Kagura - an arrogant alien who wants everyone to acknowledge her existence. Also, she's a runaway daughter who found shelter in a building tucked away in the dark side of the town built for sinful night activities.

Sougo Okita - a sadistic paranormal skeptic who wants nothing to do with everyone aside from his sister. It just so happens that his sister might actually believe in ghosts and would be closer to the ghost believer.

Side Characters

Mitsuba Okita - Sougo's sister. Not wanting to deprive her brother from their loss of parents in their young age, Mitsuba unintentionally spoiled her brother with generous affection. Nowadays, however, her attention is divided to two other things: ghost sightings and a certain man with V bangs.

Tsukuyo - Kagura's current guardian. Maintaining a twisted harmony within the prostitution sector becomes more difficult when she saves a self-proclaimed alien from mobsters. Humans truly are scary, and the current circumstances of their home does not make it easier for them to survive.

Toushiro Hijikata - a paranormal amateur who is scared of ghosts but thrives to show proof because a science guy provoked him. He may shiver in their assumed prsence but there's no beating the electrifying shock he experiences when he gets close to a certain woman in love with Tabasco.

Isao Kondou - manager of the ghost squad. He frequently orders booze and snacks from a certain club as he is usually left alone in the car and chatting the boys when they're busy searching for ghosts.

Hinowa - Kagura's another guardian. Her plan should be carried out, especially in Kagura's presence which she would like to take advantage of in the dire circumstances. She has a friend in a distant place, in a gay bar where various connections are revealed. She also wants to go to a snack bar to seek help.

Housen - manager of Yoshiwara and president of the Shuttle of the Night Laboratory. He creates chemicals using alien technology and chemicals for his illegal business to thrive and sustain life for the citizens living on a certain prostitution building.

Seita - believes in ghosts and aliens. But his mother is busy dealing with the forbidden chemicals in their building so he is often left alone dealing with the ghostly stuff. Not that anyone lends an ear to him nor takes him seriously except for the airhead immigrant who came to their home days ago.

Shinpachi Shimura - a slave of science deprived of sleep. The government basically stuffs their laboratory with all the difficult work and they're not getting paid enough. In return, he turns into an otaku in his scarce free time where he becomes fast asleep when hearing Otsu's songs.

Gintoki Sakata - a living legend, a lazy president of a laboratory. The legend says he conducted an experiment wherein he successfully called out a demon and bargained something precious in exchange of peace and harmony of the world. But as seen in his slacked form, it is hard to tell whether it is true or not.

Sagaru Yamazaki - the camera man of the ghost squad. Can only stuff his mouth of sausage and anpan to prevent himself from screaming.

Katakuriko Matsudaira - the director of the ghost squad. He doesn't really care but because his daughter likes the V guy, he allowed it. Definitely not because of her daughter pestering him all week, no, his daughter is not annoying like that. But things have taken a turn once an incident happened.

Kankou - Kagura's father. Always scourging for chemicals in various planets with a purpose just slightly different from his past scavenging. In his line of business, he met an inventor who successfully created an android, fueling his twisted longing hidden in the depth of his balding head.

Kamui - Kagura's brother. A drug dealer and an alien in hiding, he makes a living by introducing their alien chemicals to induce varying effects to humans. Actually finding a compatible material or element with theirs so he can create a perfect formula of necromancy, or so a ragged book says.

Tatsuma Sakamoto - a science guy who accomplished finding aliens but with a price. He considers the bargain a trade worth to happen despite the events that transpired. He takes record of the aliens he encountered and considers life as a philosophical entertainment which he guarantees his friends would agree on, somehow, despite their lack of presence.

Mutsu - an alien of Kagura's species. She is the vice captain of a spaceship that might as well be in her full hold as the captain is irresponsible and talks gibberish when he's drunk. Though, letting their captain barf from the spaceship is prolly not a good idea as a kid watches the barf be brought down by gravity, to his face.

Until then, see ya! (insert Katsura's little awkward laughs excited giggles)

#gintama #fanfiction #ao3 fanfic #okikagu #spy x family #crossover #okikagu fanart #enemies to lovers #enemies to friends to lovers #rivals to lovers

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bossladytae · 5 years

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Major Gintama spoilers ahead. Decided to share my thoughts since I feel people are missing the point on why some of us are not happy with the current developments, especially when we are looking at the bigger picture, not just a snapshot. A few folks have already and wonderfully articulated their thoughts that I agree with, so this is my two cents to add. No one has to agree with me. I’ve been a Gintama fan for a very, very long time. I will always love this series, but no series is perfect, and having a different viewpoint about the present events does not make me or anyone else less of a fan.

Death in general always brings a mixture of emotions, and people are allowed to mourn, to question, to do what they need to do in order to process somebody’s last farewell (just don’t harass people if they feel differently than you do). You are not required to be 100% positive or negative about the story’s progression. Different opinions on this chapter can and do exist. I’m sharing mine only because I want to clear up some misconceptions about why those of us with the same thoughts feel as we do.

We are not necessarily unhappy that Takasugi died (although this does not make us jump for joy, either). We were prepared to accept Takasugi living or dying, depending on the manner in which either fate was carried out. Indeed, his death mirrors history with the real Takasugi also dying young. His death brings to mind Gintoki’s words to Oboro: “Be it killing him or protecting him, they’re both my job.” Takasugi’s death has been foreshadowed more than once, particularly with his first appearance post-time skip and the revelation of borrowed time, so it’s not a surprise when it’s been quite apparent. We know this. Lastly, some of us, like myself, are fine with the death scene itself (Takasugi dying in Gintoki’s arms) because it was beautifully done.

We’re unhappy that the final arc post-time skip consisted of rehashed events that have already taken place multiple times (even in a movie). We’re unhappy that Katsura, who originally said, “I can’t let you cut down your master again,” is denied the chance to be present for these final moments when he’s also a student of Shouka Sonjuku, having experienced the same loss. We’re unhappy that Matako and Henpeita – who have now lost more of their closest comrades – were denied the chance to fight alongside Takasugi just as everyone else was allowed to rush forward and fight with Gintoki. We’re unhappy that Shouyou had to be reminded once again that he could not save a single one of his cherished students. We’re unhappy that Takasugi had to stab himself again, compounding his trauma, as if Utsuro bringing him to the brink of death countless times was not enough. We’re unhappy that in a cruel and twisted way, Gintoki saves his teacher but loses his friend, whom he had already protected multiple times, body and soul. We’re unhappy that Gintoki is reliving that choice, that pain—again, and again, and again.

No, happiness doesn’t always prevail in life. Everyone knows this. But we’re talking about a fictional story whose final arc is one we feel could’ve been set up differently. And there is nothing wrong with expressing a variety of opinions about it.

I’m not a fan of endless tragedy and violence with little to no substance. To me, it felt like Takasugi had become a vehicle for violence. “How much more can I shock the audience and get away with it?” That’s the impression I received. Consequently, these last few chapters have come off as rather uninspired to me, especially when several pages were centered on everyone simply running around or running after people, and repeating the same one-liners and sentiments they have expressed countless times already. It’s not as if we’ve forgotten or have never seen how much the cast cares for one another. Gintama’s past arcs have given us high standards already, so we had different expectations for the finale.

This is partly why I wasn’t fully on board with Nobu Nobu’s death, even though his death flag was obvious, too. It felt like the easy way out, because then he wouldn’t live on to deal with the consequences of his actions, wouldn’t have to work hard to change what he had caused. It’s harder to live on with such a burden, to find a new path in life, and to earn back people’s respect and trust, but how much greater a message that would’ve been. Killing off your antagonists immediately after redeeming them also has the risk of becoming a cliché as much as surviving does.

However, I accepted it because even though Gintama isn’t mirroring history detail for detail (for one thing, Okita would’ve died instead of his sister), it still does with the passing of the Edo to Meiji era, Amanto parallels with the Perry Expedition, the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Western influences, and more. Nobu Nobu’s death and the rise of a new government within Gintama’s world made that much clear.

It can also be said that chapter 703 emphasizes the fact that you can still move on after a great loss. But, as far as lessons go, we have already learned this through Shige Shige’s death with little time spent on the fact that Zenzou had to kill a friend to save a friend, and lost that friend in the end, anyway. Yet, he returned to assist in the battle against Utsuro. Zenzou has exemplified moving on from a terrible tragedy; we have seen the lesson in action already, and, truly, Zenzou has amazing inner strength. I was sad that Shige Shige had to die after all that because he is a good man, but I liked the plot and character development his death resulted in.

Takasugi had his redemption already, and his entire story arc was well done and even his death is memorable, as redundant as the circumstances turned out to be, but I would expect nothing less, for he deserves to go out with a bang. He has directly and indirectly caused many deaths as much as any other antagonist in the story, but he has also saved many lives through his later actions. Had he lived, I wouldn’t expect him to feel he must spend the rest of his life atoning for his actions, because he did not see himself on the “wrong side” so much as he did the government. Politics is a complex matter, which is why Gintama has always focused on one’s reaction to their circumstances and polishing their soul to silver, not whether they’re politically right or wrong.

Rather, if chosen to survive, I think Takasugi would have tried to find his own way to live in the new world while being a product of the old one. Yes, he held onto his grief and rage for far too long, but he was also driven to change or destroy all the obstacles in his way. Shogun Assassination and Rakuyou arcs showed him renewed by the end. He would have found his way again, just as Shouyou once told him he was capable of doing. And it would’ve been a nice change from dying right after you reconcile with your family or friends. It would’ve been an inspiration for those that live on with great burdens in their past, but can now look forward to a future for once after believing there was no more hope for them in their traumatic lives.

As for living on borrowed time, I’d also hoped that Takasugi would be able to die on his own terms away from the public eye, sharing one last drink with Gintoki, Katsura, Sakamoto, and even Matako and Henpeita. If Sorachi really couldn’t think of anything else to do with him (or the Kiheitai, for that matter) except to kill him off, then at least give Takasugi some final moments of peace with his friends before exiting this world, just like other characters received (whether they died or departed the city). But he was not granted that. Instead, he was subjected to one violent attack after another, used to deliver another fatal injury to himself and cause his teacher more sorrow, and then, finally, cut down by one of his dearest friends. For me, it was nothing but senseless bloodshed.

After reading this convoluted-to-the-utmost-degree finale, I can appreciate that Takasugi at least could die within Gintoki’s arms. It continually reaffirms my belief that Gintoki and Takasugi’s relationship is unbreakable. They know each other so well—too well, perhaps, which is why they were so readily annoyed with one another, too. Gintoki called him “my other self.” Takasugi admitted that hurting Gintoki hurts him more than anything else. They were the original pair of rivals from the beginning. They entrusted earth and space battles to one another, needing no explanation. Gintoki knew Takasugi would come back; Takasugi knew Gintoki would come through in the end. No one understands one another better than they do (except I would venture to include Katsura, and Sakamoto on some level, as one who had met them after Shouyou’s initial capture).

Gintoki wielding both their swords to deliver the final blow to Utsuro, who kept trying to destroy Gintoki while in the throes of death thanks to Takasugi, is a nice touch. Gintoki saying that not even death will break their bond is a lovely sentiment. Takasugi protecting Gintoki in return and paying the ultimate price moves my soul. Takasugi making a joke about his height is well within the spirit of the story. Gintoki saying, “We might have just been born under that star,” makes me smile. Takasugi wanting Gintoki’s smile as his last sight of this world, and Gintoki struggling to keep his tears in check until after Takasugi has left him, breaks my heart.

I’m fine with all of that.

I simply lament the fact that the path leading to the finale, to Takasugi’s death, was not all that I’d expected. I can only hope that like Shige Shige, Takasugi’s death will challenge and change status quo somehow. It has to because it’s such a significant event.

I have issues with the narrative as a whole since Rakuyou arc, but that’ll be too long to get into right now, and I don’t have any desire to write out my thoughts at this point (not enough time, anyway). One of them in a nutshell is this idea that you can’t move on unless your cherished ones return. Sometimes you don’t know when they will and sometimes they don’t. If you’ve built your life around the condition that those people are always there, then you may not have the strength to stand on your own two feet when you have to tackle something on your own. I feel it contradicts one of Gintama’s lessons about building up your inner strength – your soul – so that you can still move forward, even if you must walk alone. Solely relying on others for your happiness, solely making others responsible for your happiness, is not that healthy, in my opinion.

I think Tae and Tsukuyo showed a healthier way of moving forward while hoping for others to return or reunite. They became/resumed being leaders and businesswomen; they reacted to their circumstances and proceeded accordingly with what they felt was best. For Sacchan, Sorachi relied on an old gag; for Kyuubei, Sorachi placed them in a marriage interview situation, as if he couldn’t think of what else to do with them. In the end, Tae was worried for Shinpachi being unable to move on, and Tsukuyo was the one who reassured everyone that Gintoki would eventually come back, and that they would all see him again. Not even Katsura believed that Gintoki had somehow become an enemy of the world; he has always trusted that Gintoki would be on a sure path because Gintoki told him, “If you've got time to fantasize about a beautiful death, why not live beautifully until the end?” So it was strange to me when others expressed their doubts in thinking they’d have to fight Gintoki in order to protect the world.

But, I digress, and I will stop before I lose sight of my original purpose for this post.

Everything that has inspired me before Silver Soul arc will remain. I still think Gintama is one of the best shounen series to date with its myriad of ways to stand out from the rest. Sadly, it just fell short of my expectations at the end, becoming more like a generic shounen story. I don’t know if Sorachi is burnt out; or if his editor(s) were pressuring him to write a certain way; or if he had written himself into corner and this is the result of him trying to get out in a believable way. He has redrawn things before and has admitted he has forgotten details or story elements in the past. It happens to the best of us, and only he knows how his internal process works. Clearly, he’s still trying to end things in the best way he can with what he already presented chapters ago. No one is faulting him for that. It’s not the same as critiquing a story’s entirety on its own.

I will accept Gintama’s impending conclusion, but as I have stated many times in the past, you are always free to question, to challenge, and to even affirm canon material of any text with your opinions. Everyone thinks and feels differently. That is why we study literature; that is why we love stories. I’m eternally thankful to Sorachi for creating Gintama. I will always treasure this series.

I will never forget that Takasugi Shinsuke gave his life for a world he was intent on destroying—and, really, he did destroy it so that it could be renewed. And I hope none of the cast forgets, either.

#gintama spoilers #gintama #takasugi shinsuke #takasugi #spoilers #special shout-out to arirna for our many discussions on this; thank you for everything #this was tiring to type out when i'm still thinking about takasugi #one of my most favourite characters of all time so naturally i'm affected by this chapter #i post this not to generate debate or arguments but just to share #long post

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dropintomanga · 5 years

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Gintama - Finding a Time Machine to Move Forward

Back in February 2018, fans of Gintama were expecting a resolution of what was/is one of the funniest manga titles ever and one that outlasted both Naruto and BLEACH. The Silver Soul arc was set to be the finale of the adventures of the beloved Yorozuya who’ve touched many fans’ hearts for 15+ years. But beneath any cover, you shouldn’t always judge by it. The manga went into its climax instead and a long one where readers experienced a wide mix of emotions as it’s become apparent that Gintama will end on the terms of creator Hideaki Sorachi himself. On September 17, 2018, Gintama ended in Weekly Shonen Jump. But due to Sorachi being unable to end the story on time, it was to get its true ending starting on the Jump GIGA magazine in December 2018. Three chapters and months later, Gintama is now done on Jump GIGA and Sorachi still hasn’t finished the series. The manga is now aiming to have a proper sendoff by June 2019 (which is the release month of the proposed last volume, Volume 77) as its subsequent final chapters will be released via a mobile app in Japan.

While reading through this lengthy epilogue, I wonder about the significance of this true finale as it focuses on how one’s past can either get in the way of life or lead to a future that helps everyone.

The climax takes place 2 years after the ending of the final battle with Utsuro, the enemy who’s been a big part of Gintoki Sakata’s life since he was a child. Kabukicho is now at peace, but the Yorozuya have broken up. Shinpachi Shimura has become the only Yorozuya to defend his hometown. What starts off as a funny epilogue to Gintama takes a dark turn as it’s revealed that Gintoki went off on a personal mission to visit natural energy sources throughout Japan. Remnants of the Tendoshuu, the alien government that once controlled all of Edo and thought to have dissolved after the final arc, have been plotting a resurgence and hope to revive Utsuro to become immortal. Gintoki wants to prevent that by searching for any physical remnants of Utsuro at the energy sources themselves as they were what gave Utsuro life. The conclusion is now setting up to be one where Japan looks to properly transition into its own “Meiji Era” through the actions of a silly samurai who feels that he has to do everything he can to protect his friends and those who want him around to see what he accomplished.

Gintoki decides to handle everything himself out of his promise to his master, Shoyo Yoshida, who was an alternate persona of Utsuro. Shoyo, out of sympathy for Utsuro, wanted Gintoki to put an end to a cycle of abuse where power-hungry individuals continued to take advantage of Utsuro for their own needs. It was so personal that Gintoki couldn’t rely on anyone who didn’t experience what he went through. His former comrades, Shinsuke Takasugi and Katsura Kotaro, are also trying to save Shoyo in their own way. At first, Gintoki traveled all over Japan to ensure the friends he made throughout Gintama weren’t targeted by assassins who knew what he was up to. However, the Tendoshuu have plans to use Kabukicho as a newfound base and Gintoki ends up having to go back to the friends he left behind (in hilarious fashion as the series is known for).

A lot of us are defined by our pasts. They shape how we behave, what we believe, and what we may become. Childhood and adolescence are often the roughest period of growing up for many people. Those experiences do become them. Of course, it doesn’t mean life-changing moments don’t happen when we’re past adolescence. Yet we’re always moving forward and not taking much time to reflect on what was.

This seems to be the case with the Yorozuya. Gintoki made the decision to disband the group, saying that everyone involved had a personal job to do. However, Shinpachi and Kagura didn’t feel that they accomplished anything during the 2 year time-skip. Shinpachi thought he was trying too hard to live up to Gintoki’s shadow. Kagura went on a journey to help Sadaharu, the pet dog who became trapped in a tiny ball due to his sacrifice to stop Utsuro back then. The only changes she felt were of the humorous kind (turning into an old lady at random). You can say Gintoki didn’t achieve much either since his promise to “save” Shoyo/Utsuro took up his time.

While the Yorozuya eventually do reunite in Chapter 701, it’s really hard to move on sometimes. Yes, you can let go of people, but there’s always that nagging feeling in your mind that makes you go “What if..?” There’s a part inside your head that sort of demands some proper closure. It’s a hard-wired feeling. The entire cast of Gintama characters that rush to help the Yorozuya admits that they missed seeing Gin’s charming idiocy in full display.

Although he didn’t die, Gintoki going off on his own personal journey affected everyone in Kabukicho. While there was some closure due to the world being saved, it wasn’t simple to get over or move on from someone who changed the lives of many. All the characters could do was talk about Gintoki and what he did, which is important to process any kind of loss in your own life.

This also applies to the other side. The Tendoshuu couldn’t get past their own desires for power and Utsuro’s immortality. Utsuro wanted humanity to die after being taken advantage of for hundreds of years. There’s a good reason why he wanted to do so as people do get easily corrupted from vices. The addictive nature of certain vices and their immediate relief to pain reinforce a mind that serves like a bully to someone who’s depressed and anxious. You can say Utsuro was an innocent resource who suffered from people chasing a past to grab their own closure for the worst. They couldn’t deal with an uncertainty where they’re not able to control the world.

After arriving in Kabukicho before the final battle, Gintoki made some comments about running back to his past. He felt he had no right to talk to anyone he knew as he was trying to save the enemy that tried to destroy the world. At the same time, Gintoki felt as if he didn’t change at all as he missed Shinpachi and Kagura in his life. He subtly wanted them to stop him from disbanding the Yorozuya for personal reasons.

As Gintama fans may tell you about the general theme of the series, it’s about dealing with your past and going forward from there. But good god, does the past catch up to you in ways you don’t expect. I think that’s what Sorachi is trying to say with bringing back Utsuro as a plot point. Humans don’t always learn from history well. We do repeat the same mistakes. A book I once read about anxiety said this as a quote, “Sometimes, taking a step back is the best way to move forward.” Take a look at your past and process it for the better, not suppress it for the worst.

I often wonder if another lesson from Gintama right now is that closure can be a myth to many people. Some may need it more than others especially if they go through significant events. For everyone in Gintama involved, the Silver Soul arc was that event.

However, as I noticed while reading, the Yorozuya had a certain kind of mentality to handle the ambiguity of their separation at the time. Maybe they’ll reunite, maybe they won’t. Whatever happens won’t mean the end of the world. All 3 members just kept going despite their inner pain. People can both be absent and present at the same time. This realization can do wonders if someone accepts it.

Maybe Gintama will end this year, maybe it won’t. All we can do is just enjoy this long ride as much as possible. Then we’ll look back with all kinds of mixed feelings like the characters themselves do. Gintama is about messiness in all kinds of ways, but that also means it’s a series about us - humans struggling with conflicting thoughts every day and managing to hustle along to the beat of their souls the best they can.

#Gintama #manga #psychology #moving forward #psychology of the past #closure #mental health #ambiguous loss

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runawaykotaro · 5 years

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ginzura 1-30

Oh okay oh man we’re going 0-60 here all at once i get it okay lets go

1. Who is the most affectionate?

I think this one is going to depend on what you count as affectionate? like, Gintoki’s more into physical contact and he’ll like, touch katsura more often but Zura’s more likely to express concern for Gintoki (by nagging but u know. it’s affectionate nagging) so i’d say that one is a toss up

2. Big spoon/Little spoon

With all of Zura’s hair???? Zura is definitely the big spoon Gintoki doesn’t want any of that near his mouth and Zura doesn’t want Gintoki’s mouth anywhere near his hair

3. Most common argument?

It would literally be easier to name what they don’t argue about. Like, they argue about each others bad habits, their hygiene, what to eat for dinner, who’s paying for dinner, although who’s paying for what is a really common one because they’re both really cheap

4. Favorite non-sexual activity?

They like to sit on the couch and just do nothing together. Like, Katsura will read the newspaper and Gintoki will read jump and they’ll just like, sit there, mostly quiet but sometimes making inane comments about what they’re reading. They like the peace :’) (close second is family dinners with the yorozuya)

5. Who is most likely to carry the other?

I’d say that Gintoki is more likely to carry Katsura, cause Zura has this nasty habit of taking blows meant for other people and that generally makes it hard for him to walk

6. What is their favorite feature of their partner’s?

Katsura admires how strong Gintoki is to be able to recover and try to build a new life for himself after everything that happened to him (he also likes his abs) As much as it irritates him, Gintoki admires Katsura’s strategic mind and how he’s able to manipulate people into doing what he needs them to do (and his legs)

7. What’s the first thing that changes when they realize they have feelings for the other?

I’d say that nothing really changed because i don’t think that either of them ever had a ‘i’m in love with you’ moment. I think that they just naturally came together after a while and without much thought

8. Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate?

I um. Don’t think i need to answer this. I think we all Know.

9. Who worries the most?

This might be controversial but i think it’s Gintoki, especially towards the beginning of the series, because he sees a lot of Katsura’s behavior as lashing out and bordering on self-destructive. I think that Katsura worries a lot about gintoki too though but both of them have a lot of faith in the other and their ability to deal with their problems which is why they usually keep quiet about it

10. Who remembers what the other one always orders at a restaurant?

Katsura because Gintoki’s order is so unique and he finds it so disgusting. Red beans on rice? Gintoki, you’re a disgrace to samurai everywhere. You have no respect for your body or proper nutrition-

11. Who tops?

I’m going to say usually Gintoki but i don’t think that’s an always thing

12. Who initiates kisses?

Gintoki again i think. Overall I think that Gintoki is more into physical intimacy, whereas Katsura is very verbal with his affection

13. Who reaches for the other’s hand first?

Depends on the situation I guess? But I don’t think either of them are big hand holders now but I think Zura would do it a lot when they were kids

14. Who kisses the hardest?

Whoever just got insulted in the last petty argument they had

15. Who wakes up first?

Gintoki probably. I feel like most of the time he’s a light sleeper so he wakes up really early and really easily which pisses him off to no end. Whereas Zura sleeps like a log

16. Who wants to stay in bed just a little longer?

Also Gintoki. If he wakes up before his alarm he’ll just do his best to go back to sleep (and usually ends up sleeping through his alarm) It irritates him to no end that Katsura goes from like, deep sleep to ready for the day in point two seconds after he wakes up so sometimes he’ll nag Zura into staying in bed with him for a while after they’re supposed to wake up

17. Who says I love you first?

Okay I actually can’t imagine either of them saying it ever i really feel like they’re both more inclined to show it than actually say the words? I don’t think that they’ve ever said it

18. Who leaves little notes in the other’s one lunch? (Bonus: what does it usually say?)

Zura. He packs bento boxes for Gintoki and leave notes in them that say ‘Eat something other than carbs for once in your life.’

19. Who tells their family/friends about their relationship first?

Again I think that it was more of people just eventually... figuring it out? like, Sakamoto walks in on Gintoki and Katsura making out one day and he’s like oh okay that makes sense and Takasugi would have had to have been blind Not to notice, and for Now, as Zura and Gintoki settled in around each other again Katsura just started coming over to the yorozuya more often and staying over and Kagura and Shinpachi just, figured out that they had a lot of history and cared about each other a lot just from watching them

20. What do their family/friends think of their relationship?

Sakamoto and Takasugi literally couldn’t have cared less except for when it was something that they could make fun of them for. Like, Gintoki and Zura being Involved didn’t really change their dynamic because they’d always bickered like an old married couple anyway, so beyond Sakamoto making dirty jokes and Takasugi yelling at them when they’re remotely affectionate somewhere he can see, they really didn’t acknowledge it much, though both of them hoped that gintoki and zura were happy. Kagura and Shinpachi were more conflicted because first of all: Ew Old Men, but more importantly because they can and could tell that Katsura and Gintoki had kind of a difficult history together but at the same time, Zura was also practically family to them too. Overall, they’re happy for them though

21. Who is more likely to start dancing with the other?

Katsura, and he’s really embarrassing and demanding about it. If a song he likes comes on he’s like ‘Gintoki Get UP we’re going to dance now’ sometimes he starts dancing by himself. it’s awful he’s so bad at it. Gintoki loves him anyway. sometimes he’ll give in and get roped into ‘slow-dancing’ which is mostly just them holding onto each other and swaying in one spot

22. Who cooks more/who is better at cooking?

Gintoki cooks more because it’s his house dammit and he’s not leaving Zura alone in the kitchen. He’s also better at it- Zura only knows how to make like, three things

23. Who comes up with cheesy pick up lines?

Zura likes to find really bad pick up lines on candy wrappers or over the internet or whatever and read them to Gintoki in a really serious voice and then get offended when Gintoki tells him to shut up

24. Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear during inappropriate times?

Gintoki no contest, but Zura will sometimes do it by accident because he has a malfunctioning social filter

25. Who needs more assurance?

Gintoki, probably. He worries a lot about how he’s impacting Kagura and Shinpachi, and he’s always conflicted about the decision he made on the cliff and what Shoyou thought. Katsura takes supporting Gintoki and reassuring him very seriously

26. What would be their theme song?

Sorry for cheating but i have literally no idea i listen to the same three songs on repeat

27. Who would sing to their child back to sleep?

Gintoki. Its his inescapable fatherly nature (Zura would like to wait outside the door and listen)

28. What do they do when they’re away from each other?

Pretty much the same things they do when they’re together. Gintoki ‘manages’ the yorozuya, Zura has the Joui

29. one headcanon about this OTP that breaks your heart

After the cliff, the reason that Katsura left was that he believed that Gintoki wouldn’t want to see him anymore because he’d be a reminder of how he’d had to kill shoyou to save takasugi and katsura. Gintoki thought that Katsura left because he could bare to be around him when he’d killed shoyou

30. one headcanon about this OTP that mends it

Katsura is really really fond of Kagura because how brash and rude she is reminds him of Gintoki when they were younger

#Ginzura #new years cards #i accidentally published this without answering it lmao that's what i get for doing this on my phone

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sparda3g · 6 years

Text

Gintama Chapter 685 Review

youtube

I don’t know how much fuel I have left in my laugh box. Honestly, I’m amazed with Sorachi’s talent in comedy, even at this late of the stage. You wouldn’t think that we are in a final arc with a serious problem for these characters. We are deluded by a series of hilarity. This chapter had me rolling with laughter from hilarious twists and the cliffhanger that seriously got me really curious, just to see how this would end.

After the false death report of Binbokusai, his face is covered in mosaic for whatever reason. Supposedly, he’s being recorded for documentary. He monologues his life and his view on trash. He comes off like an old wise man that fulfilled his purpose within his family. It’s no wonder the last chapter had a mellow tone. The way he sees trash basically follows the concept, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” It’s simple and delightful; nice to see him moving forward to something he enjoys. Then hijinks ensue…

Till this day, Gintoki is still acting like a mannequin. I know he is hiding from his friends, but this is dedication level or even worse. It’s funny how Bin uses him as something that defeats the purpose or rather wrongfully used. It was fine with him putting a jacket that reads, “Third Generation,” a reference to a band, but out of nowhere, he uses him as a roach swatter. I believe I get the joke behind the Third Generation part. As dumb that was, he tops it with Hijikata, who still acts like a mannequin, and uses him as a replacement. Seriously, he doesn’t really need to act like one, but whatever I suppose. Funny he was written with “YouTuber.” Is this a message from Sorachi to us?

I completely lost it with the next page. Even the mightiest edgelord Takasugi is caught in the middle of this stupidity. I don’t even know how he was even buried in the garbage and still kept his cool face. Hijikata and Gintoki’s reaction just don’t cut it anymore; this is very dumbfounded. Someone has a grudge against the director since they suggest to write it on Takasugi in order to make it a target practice. I’m sorry, but I’m still baffled by the fact this edgelord is in this mess and I don’t mean the garbage.

He falls on Bin before any ridiculous stunt happens. I guess the edgelord knows his limit after all. It’s the perfect time for the other two to roll out and escape, but no, grudge runs deep when they went over there to beat up Bin. That or trying to free Takasugi, I don’t know which, but they’re pretty pissed off for a reason. Well, at least the documentary has ended. Can’t wait to see the complete version.

Finally, Gintoki stops playing as a mannequin. I was close to be convinced that Gintama is about mannequin. Funny how he channels the fans’ thought about Takasugi goofing around, even mocking his edgy characteristics. I love how this series is so self-aware and understands its fans. Then a twist happens and it turns out that guy is not him. He was wearing a wig.

Gintoki actually believe that Takasugi has gone bold. Wow, his reason to destroy the world is definitely reasonable. It’s even funnier that he asks him to shout out his catchphrase. I cannot believe this series is really mocking itself. But I got to say, it’s a shame that it wasn’t Takasugi in the first place. He threatened the guy to swap places and that guy took the role of a mannequin. Oh well, it’s understandable since Takasugi is too serious for that kind of stunt; even Hijikata thought the same.

Oh how dumb I am to underestimate Sorachi. Sure, Takasugi didn’t act like a mannequin, but he still pull a stupid tactic as he dressed up as a cartoon character out in the open. What’s even stupider is he is even wearing an eyepatch for the costume. Why?! This series is going to end me. Gintoki takes the wig from the guy to disguise as Takasugi or going by Nisesugi. Now we are in disguise arc. What a transition.

Not even a page in, he’s already stopped by someone. What the hell did he expect? He is the most wanted man on Edo. When I saw kunai, I thought it would be either Sacchan or Tsukuyo, though more on the former, and surprise, surprise, it’s Sacchan. She looks about the same, just her uniform is revamped. It looks similar to Nobume’s, though later on, it’s addressed that she works under Soyo, so that does explain the concept. Needless to say, she still looks nice. That all said a new set of hijinks ensue. I’m surprised I’m alive to write this.

It’s hysterically funny to see how far Gintoki has to stick to the role, up to the point he has to rely on the special effect to display his intimidation. It is fourth wall broken at its finest. It is hilarious how Sacchan didn’t care about Takasugi with his two eyes, already signaling fake, so she just take out one. Irony. Gintoki’s logic to recover an eye is to use a marker to draw a dot and somehow it replaces its pupil, even if it is too large. And so, the story begins with the fake Takasugi.

I love how Gintoki has to imitate him with his over exaggerated edginess. It’s so damn hard to take him serious with his disjointed eyes. His dialogue is so humorous; it must end with dark and sinister tone by default. The panel always darkened for dramatic effect with the “kuwah” sound effect. It got to the point that Hijikata took notice of his stupid antic. Gintoki goes so far to even reference a TV personality with “Indian people don’t tell lie,” just for the sake of the effect. Now that’s just being too desperate.

For some reason, he transfer his sinister vibe towards a stranger because he needs to go to the bathroom. Shouldn’t he cut down the charade when dealing with other? In a surprise twist, he asked for the bathroom because he was feeling odd in the stomach. It turns out that Sacchan threw a kunai with a toxic that will force him to explode in his bowel movement. Now that is worthy of “kuwah.” Sorachi is genius on timing and execution.

I should feel bad for Gintoki to be humiliated, but I feel like this is an indirect way to punish him for leaving them. He’s now enslaved to Sacchan and in order to get the antidote, he must find himself. Go figure. The guy is so helpless; any minute now, he will blow up inside. One of the dumbest (which there are many already) yet clever move is the bathroom tactic, and I am not referring to Gintoki’s idea. He wants to go to the bathroom but lies about Gintoki being in a convenience store. Somehow, someway, every single one of them is occupied by Shinobi. It’s all according to the plan. Unbelievable…

It’s comical how this revelation transitions to a flashback, but it’s a nice and somewhat touching scene. It’s a shame that Zenzou did leave Edo after the war. Even with his latest development, he felt that he would have been a problem for Soyo, since he believed he’s dangerous. This confirms Sacchan to be the one in charge of Oniwabanshuu. It’s a heartfelt farewell because how well they know each other. There’s this undertone feeling that they can be more than friends, especially when tough things get going. It’s gentle of him to rely on her with upmost confidence. Hopefully, he does return later on…

Because she is using her forces to find Gintoki and force him to marry her! Sweet merciful heaven! This must be her ultimate trump card; do or die attempt. Hilarious that she will bring him back by force, yet here he is on a leash. He didn’t say the famous quote, “Wait for me,” to her. Not to go into shipping mode, but maybe he’s, ahem, not the one for you. Well, it is the final arc, so go for broke.

I love how there’s a store named, “Shits.” What a fitting message for Gintoki in his stance. But it’s not exactly what I thought, because he’s awkwardly walking to the store, and when you see someone doing that, it cannot be good. He wants to change clothes. Why? Because well, let’s just say he doesn’t need to go to a bathroom anymore. Yep. It happened. That’s just sad. What’s even sadder is he could only afford a man’s diaper; a perfect image to describe him in this chapter. My mind was blown when Gintoki decides to put an underwear over his face again. We are freaking back to the mannequin charade! Oh. My. God!

At least I cooled down with Tsukuyo on the scene with a new look. She reminds of the second movie design; I quite like the mature feel. I wonder if she has her pipe still. I also wonder if she can sense Gintoki, but not sure how to react with her being chained with him. It’s nice to know that she is with Kyuubei since they did form a nice friendship from the war. That said that means all 4 girls are in one place. Harem Round 2? Even worse, Gintoki is wearing Kyuubei’s underwear. Yep. Our protagonist, ladies and gentlemen.

This chapter was a trip. I laughed throughout the chapter and it only differs in its volume level. The comedy was gold with hilarious twists and turns. It’s hilarious to have Hijikata being the spectator throughout, reacting with how we would react. It has one touching scene and it was pleasant. The cliffhanger is very interesting honestly speaking. Very curious where do we go from there. The editor’s note says that Gintoki may die in the next chapter. Who’s ready to say goodbye?

#gintama #chapter 685 #review

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midnight-in-town · 7 years

Note

What are your fav characters in Gintama and why?

Copy pasting my list for my ten favorite characters from this post. :) I could ramble for hours about more than just my ten favorite characters, which is why I’ll talk about just them:

Gintoki

Who doesn’t love him? He might not be the absolute favorite character of everyone but I guess everyone ends up falling for him in many different ways through reading/watching Gintama. Frankly, I find he is unique as a protagonist in general, but also especially as a Shounen one: it’s not about being stronger, Gintama is the story of a guy who was empty after the war ended, but who slowly managed to rebuild his life thanks to the help of others. That’s why the series is so different from all the others of the same genre, in my opinion.

Zura

Again, I’m pretty sure Zura is a favorite of 98% of Gintama readers/viewers and there are so many reasons for that. He’s not just about comic relief, he’s just…so much more that it’s hard to put it into words. To be honest, I’m quite fond of the Joui 4 and how they changed and all went down a different path after the war ended, but Zura is…

Zura is…

…he remains our pretty darn important general and I love how he seems to always be the missing link between everything: past and present, friends or foes, war and peace.

Tsukuyo

I find it hard not to like Tsukuyo when I like Gintoki and I find that Tsukuyo parallels Gintoki on so many aspects. I really am fond of all the recurring women in Gintama in the first place, but I have an even softer spot for her because of her personal story, her skills and how she developed throughout the story.

No shit, this girl went from living only for her older sister figure…

…to acknowledging that she wanted to go support the man she loves, no matter if that meant she was going to die. From someone who had supposedly thrown away “being a woman”, that’s an amazing step forward, but then again Sorachi is a genius with his characters.

Otose

Seriously, has there been a more generous character in the whole cast? I don’t think so and I’ll forever be grateful to her for taking Gintoki in when he was at his wits’ end, without hardly really ever asking for anything in exchange. She’s absolutely amazing and that’s why so many characters look up to her, why so many love her and would do so much for her. She might be old but she’s a true badass.

Elizabeth

I think Eli is the character everyone frowned at upon seeing him at first, then went “????” about him until a point where we all accepted that we might never learn about the enigma behind the character, but that it was okay because he was amazing anyway. Well, I can say that I’m happy that we actually find stuff during the last arc x) but all in all, he’s like Zura, one of an amazing kind and that’s why I like him so much.

Kyuubei

One of a kind as well and I think Sorachi did pretty amazing with her character, especially considering the controversy about such topics IRL. All in all, Kyuubei is great and her strength of character comes from accepting who she wants to be and her feelings, and that’s how everyone else respects how she sees herself as well as the woman she fell in love with.

Hijikata

I was initially tricked into thinking he was a cool character. Then it was revealed he was also mostly a dork, but I was already fond of him and nothing could make me change my mind afterwards. He’s got a great development from a very early point, that’s why I think he is one more absolute favorite characters of the series’ fans and of mine as well. :3 (also the dekobokko arc, just… wonderful)

Mutsu

Ex-space pirate, businesswoman, Yato, constantly deals with and cleans up after Sakamoto’s shit, badass and beautiful => do I need more reasons to love her? xD

Sakamoto

Okay, so you know how Sakamoto actually is the only one out of the Joui 4 who has no relation to Utsuro? Well, I personally love how he still naturally found his place amongst Zura, Gin-chan and Takasugi, as if it was as easy as breathing. His laugh can be annoying sometimes and he sounds more stupid than Zura at some other times, but that guy is like a breeze of fresh air and I’ll forever be grateful to him for what he taught Nobunobu and for never giving up on his friends.

Jirocho

Badass, with badass skills, badass backstory and a lot of feelings, so I just love him, okay? Some things can’t be explained rationally, he’s just too amazing and too beautifully written for me not to love him as much as I do. I wish he and Otose would just remarry each other once the war is over again.

There you go! Obviously I love many (if not all) other characters, but you already have my personal opinion on my ten favorite ones, so I hope it answers your question ;) Have a nice day!

#gintama #sakata gintoki #katsura kotarou #tsukuyo #otoso #terada ayano #yagyuu kyuubei #hijikata toshirou #elizabeth #doromizu jirocho #sakamoto tatsuma #mutsu #anon #answers #personal

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sun-summoning · 7 years

Text

summary: mutsu and kagura in space

their stowaway doesn’t try very hard to hide her presence. really, she doesn’t try at all. complaints about some ravenous little earthling bullying the staff in the kitchens brings mutsu down to deal with their guest. she might be young, but mutsu knows this girl is another yato based on their previous encounters and she understands she would be the best one to confront the kid.

“why are you here?” mutsu asks.

“i was hungry,” kagura replies between bites.

“why are you on this ship?” mutsu rephrases.

“i was bored.”

mutsu frowns. “this is a place of business. this is no place for children.”

“i’m not a child,” kagura protests, lowering her bowl onto the counter with a loud thud. she glares at mutsu, but the venom in her eyes is covered by the lingering rice around her lips. “i’m fourteen.” she pauses. “and three quarters.”

when she was fourteen, mutsu was the heiress to a fleet of space pirates and traded slaves like any other commodity. the girl before her is just as small and just as fierce, but her emotions flicker over her face so easily.

mutsu sighs. “is your--” she mulls over the right word, “caretaker aware that you are here?”

“gin-chan?” kagura wipes her face with the back of her hand and then wipes that hand on her dress. she shrugs noncommittally. “i might have left him a letter.”

“might have?”

“i didn’t.”

“so he’s unaware.”

“i told sadaharu!”

mutsu recalls the dog in question and recognizes how unhelpful him knowing will be when gintoki realizes kagura is missing and raises hell. she takes a breath. she doesn’t yell at the crew and only really ever raises her voice at tatsuma if anyone, so she won’t yell at this foolish child.

“why are you here, kagura?” mutsu asks once more.

perhaps it’s the use of her name that makes the girl falter. her hands link behind her back and she begins to shift, suddenly shy. mutsu has met this girl a handful of times, and at no point would she ever have called kagura anything akin to meek.

“i’ve only met a few yato before,” kagura mumbles. “aside from my family, i mean.” she shifts her weight from one foot to the other, silently stalling. when she finally looks up at mutsu, her cheeks are dusted with pink. “you’re the first yato lady i’ve ever met aside from my mami. you’re like me, yes?”

mutsu doesn’t think she’s anything like this girl.

“sorta,” kagura corrects. “mostly. whatever.” she shrugs, looking down at her feet. “i thought we could hang out?”

that definitely wasn’t what mutsu was expecting. “hang out?” she echoes.

kagura nods. “hang out!”

runaway child or not, the kaientai has a strict schedule they need to adhere to and don’t have time to drop off a little girl on earth. the earliest they can do so is in ten days, and while kagura says she’s fine with that, tatsuma is not.

“kintoki will be upset!” he points out.

“the fact that you call him kintoki tells me you don’t care all that much about whether of not he is upset.”

she would send the captain to make the delivery, but something tells her that setting him loose in edo would only result in a week of drinking and partying. and if not that, she imagines kagura would just bully tatsuma into letting her have her way.

mutsu considers the deliveries and pick-ups they’ll be doing soon and then the costs of lugging around a fourteen-year-old yato. she almost smiles when she considers the impact kagura will make on their provisions.

she turns to kagura after removing any mask of amusement.

“this isn’t some luxury ship,” mutsu states, “so you’d best not expect any five star accommodation.”

kagura picks her nose as she explains that she sleeps in a closet.

despite kagura’s initial request, mutsu isn’t particularly inclined to “hang out.” she continues on with her day, working and working and working, and not once considering the girl.

when mutsu was fourteen, she was looking after a ship. there were other powers that did a lot of important work, but she was always kept in the loop. she was welcome to join in the work just as she was allowed to roam free. she supposed that allowing kagura that same independence would have been the best way of getting her out of the way, but instead kagura makes her presence known.

“vice-captain,” one divisional manager begins when he calls her. “there appears to be a strange girl running lose in the loading bay. she’s been moving around crates to make a castle because she is now the apparent queen of the kaientai?”

mutsu sighs. “tell her that the highest power on this ship is the captain. after that is the vice-captain.”

“uh. sure.”

mutsu doesn’t even make an hour before she gets another call, this time from the head of the kitchens, explaining that the monster from yesterday has returned to ravage their supplies.

soon after that, the guards tell her that a little girl has been running around and asking where they store their sukonbu.

mutsu decides that the best way to manage kagura is to keep her at her side. mutsu continues on with her task, always looking back to make sure kagura is following her whenever they make any moves.

“neechan, this is boring,” kagura complains.

“work often is.”

kagura snorts. “not my work!”

admittedly, that piques mutsu’s curiosity. she knows about gintoki’s odd jobs business and has certainly requested their assistance on more than one occasion, but she’s always wondered what other kinds of work they received.

“and what is your work exactly, kagura?”

her eyes widen at the question and it occurs to mutsu she hasn’t really shown that much interest in the girl despite her own clear admiration.

“lots of things!” kagura replies. “delivering packages for terrorists, warding off fake ghosts, punching down hornet’s nests.” she waves a hand, her grin smug and excited. “you know, the usual.”

tatsuma insists mutsu just take some time off for now and spend time with kagura since she rarely meets anyone of her race. he says so freely, not quite considering that kagura is sitting at the other end of the table gnawing on another dish.

“she’s kind of...” tatsuma considers the right word. “adorable.”

mutsu looks at kagura’s sauce-smeared face and wonders if he needs his eyes checked. “adorable?”

“or something.”

kagura rubs her bloated belly and demanding someone roll her back to her room. she calls for “pachi” before pausing and remembering where she is. she stands on her own, yawning and stretching and then waving at them and saying she’s calling it a night.

mutsu watches her leave. “or something indeed.”

“how come you don’t carry an umbrella?” kagura asks, prodding mutsu with her own.

“i’ve never had one,” mutsu admits, swatting it away.

“but what about the sun?”

“i generally avoid it.”

“but what if you can’t?”

“my hat is sufficient.”

“but what about kicking people’s butts?”

mutsu cracks a small smile. “surely you know i don’t need a weaponized umbrella to win a battle?”

kagura grins in turn, albeit a little wider. “i knew you were super strong, neechan!”

while most yato are prone to using their fists and swinging around their umbrellas, those umbrellas are also weaponized and use their own special sort of bullets. mutsu doesn’t carry around an umbrella, but she does have her own firearm.

she has a collection, actually, and judging by kagura’s silence, she’s positively enamoured by it.

“come,” mutsu says, grabbing the one that shoots laser beams. they walk over to the shooting range and mutsu holds the gun before her. she takes aim, she shoots, and behind her kagura is making little noises of excitement with every blast of green that takes down a target.

after a minute, mutsu glances over her shoulder.

“would you like to try?” she offers.

“yes!”

she hands the girl the gun and kagura tries to replicate the position mutsu had been in. this gun is different than what she’s used to, shorter and probably a lot lighter too, so mutsu adjusts her stance and her arms and then tells kagura to fire.

the eruption of green light has kagura cheering. after one shot, she turns to mutsu and grins.

“i want one of these,” she declares. “i can have this, yes?”

mutsu imagines it must be frowned upon to give a weapon to a child, but then she remembers what they are and knows that kagura’s fists could do much for damage. she rests a hand on kagura’s head and agrees.

mutsu is an only child, tatsuma knows. he considers that her father, pirate that he was, may have left a handful of bastards around the galaxy, but mutsu grew up alone and that much he is certain of. that said, he thinks she handles the little yato girl with ease.

when he points this out in private, mutsu shrugs.

“i apply the same principles as when dealing with a potential client.”

“right.”

mutsu doesn’t like his tone, he understands, based on the way her lips thin.

“what?” she bites out.

“i didn’t say anything!”

“you were going to.”

tatsuma shrugs. “you’re good with her,” he says simply enough.

mutsu raises an eyebrow. “you’ve already said that.”

“did i?” tatsuma laughs because he doesn’t want to elaborate. “relax, mutsu,” he says, placing a hand on her shoulder. he smiles. “there’s nothing wrong with admitting that you actually do want to--” he pauses, tapping his chin. “how did she put it? ah, yes. hang out.”

one night kagura insists on sleeping in mutsu’s room. she brings along snacks that are apparently for midnight and drops her futon on the floor with a thud. she arranges it in one sliver of space as mutsu stares at her, shocked into silence by her audacity.

“i have work to do, kagura.”

“work?” kagura scoffs. “it’s bedtime, neechan. why are you working?”

“i have a company to run.”

“but that’s boring!”

“have you ever considered your future aspirations, kagura?”

“huh?”

“what do you want to be when you grow up?” the question is odd and childish but there’s a light of wonder in kagura’s eyes. the girl bites her lip and looks shy despite all mutsu knows her to be.

“i’m going to be the best alien hunter in the universe,” kagura declares.

mutsu cracks a smile, because she knows the man that title currently belongs to.

“i’m going to travel the galaxy and i’m going to be beat that stupid baldy off his throne of the strongest!”

“baldy?”

“papi,” kagura says with a nod.

“papi?” mutsu echoes, because that did nothing to clarify.

“my dad,” kagura explains, “is an alien buster.” she grimaces, crossing her arms and seeming more inconvenienced than proud. “and for whatever reason, people consider him to be the best.”

kagura busies herself opening their midnight snack an hour and a half too early. mutsu considers her own father who expected her to inherit his ruthlessness and their family business. would she have ever met tatsuma? would she ever have come across all these gems she called her comrades? would she ever have met this strange yato girl?

“anyway, that’s one idea,” kagura says, her words garbled by the food in her mouth. “i’ve also considered taking over the yorozuya when gin-chan kicks the can.”

kagura insists on creating a delicacy she learned down on earth and so mutsu lets her go to the kitchens (she’d been banned after threatening some staff for “hiding their sukonbu stash”). kagura comes back shortly with two bowls of rice and another bowl of something else. she sets mutsu’s rice before her and then cracks an egg, letting its contents fall over the grains. she does the same for herself and then claps.

“time to eat!” kagura yells, immediately digging in.

mutsu just blinks, taking in the simple meal.

“what is this?” mutsu asks.

“egg on rice!”

“yes. literally.”

kagura nods and explains that she and gin-chan eat this all the time and it’s one of her favourite things, although she also likes ramen and barbecue and gin-chan says that she can eat sushi on her birthday.

when she notices mutsu only staring at her dinner, kagura pauses. “is--” she swallows and then bites her lip. “do you not like it?” her cheeks turn pink. “i can eat it for you, if you don’t want it--”

“no.” mutsu reaches across the table and rests a hand on kagura’s head. she doesn’t ever recall being on the receiving end on this sort of affection, but something inside of her tells her she needs to reassure this kind young girl. mutsu draws her hand back and picks up her chopsticks.

she takes her first bite, not unaware of the way kagura’s eyes follow her motions. she smiles and kagura smiles back.

“it’s delicious.”

tatsuma is in the middle of his morning coffee when mutsu makes it to his side. she’s always been shorter, but today she seems even more so. tatsuma does a double take and after a moment, he realizes that this isn’t mutsu at all. instead, kagura wears a similar woven hat and a cloak of burgundy.

he smiles and he laughs, throwing his head back and clutching his belly.

“oh man,” he chokes out. “well aren’t you precious?”

“enough of your prattle, captain,” kagura replies in a low voice that isn’t quite her own. she rips the tablet with the day’s schedule out of his hands and reads it as if it means anything to her. “ah, yes, work and stuff.”

tatsuma crosses his arms, deciding to play along. “what are the plans for today, mini-mutsu?”

kagura wears the face of annoyed vice-captain quite well. “business as usual,” she replies. “although today we shall--”

she cries out, whiny and childish, and when tatsuma looks back at her, mutsu is there, a disapproving frown replacing her usual headwear.

“ah, mutsu!” tatsuma greets. “i’d like you to meet your replacement.”

kagura giggles and tatsuma joins her.

“funny,” mutsu intones.

“i’ll be really good at it, neechan!” kagura insists. “it’s simple, yes? just clean up the mess that your curly-haired idiot boss makes. i do that all the time!”

tatsuma’s laughter comes to an abrupt halt. “oi!”

“i think she looks up to you.”

mutsu nods because this isn’t really news.

“smart kid,” tatsuma says, “choosing you.”

“oh?”

tatsuma laughs. “well there are a lot of questionable people she surrounds herself with. what if she turned out like zura? or kintoki, hm?”

mutsu just shakes her head and ignores him.

kagura had fallen asleep in her chair in the meeting room almost an hour ago. mutsu had told her to go back to her room and rest, but kagura had insisted that she would wait for neechan to finish her work before leaving. “you work too much,” kagura said after a yawn. “i need to make sure you sleep as well, yes?” and so she waited, curled up in a chair with her eyes fluttering shut every few minutes until she finally dozed off entirely.

while tatsuma hadn’t confirmed that mutsu was a yato until recently, he definitely had his suspicions after a decade of observing her aversion to sunlight and powerful punches. he never pressed the issue though, assuming that it was just something mutsu didn’t want to talk about.

he knows the same stuff about the yato that everyone else does. they are one of the most dangerous races in the entire universe, they’re weakened by the sun and are often found carrying around umbrellas, and that their stomachs are essentially black holes.

and now that her heritage has been confirmed, it’s no surprise to him to see mutsu taking to this girl so easily.

there’s so few of them left that finding one must feel like reuniting with long lost family.

“are you going to miss your mini-me?”

mutsu rolls her eyes, annoyed with the nickname he’d given kagura after the dress up fiasco. “i have no time for sentiment,” she mutters.

“hm? well i will sure miss her.”

“you wanted to send her home the moment you realized she’d stowed away on this ship.” mutsu narrows her eyes at him. “or perhaps you just wanted to go down to edo to visit your usual haunts?”

tatsuma laughs, leaning back into his chair. “now, now, mutsu. i’m a responsible adult now, remember?”

“right.”

despite how much he did want to bring kagura back, certain that kintoki was probably freaking out over his missing daughter, tatsuma is glad mutsu steered him away from the idea. perhaps she wanted to spend time with kagura, perhaps she just wanted to stay on schedule -- it didn’t matter. tatsuma smiles, glad with the end result: mutsu got to spend time with this little yato girl.

“she really likes you, mutsu.”

“yes.”

“and,” tatsuma continues, “i think you really like her too.”

mutsu busies herself with scanning the inventory log she’s been reading between adjusting kagura’s head so her neck wouldn’t hurt when she woke up and wiping away the girl’s drool. he thinks he sees a ghost of a smile when mutsu replies that she thinks he might be right.

the next day, mutsu joins him on the bridge as they set course for earth.

“what if,” mutsu begins slowly, “we just...don’t bring her back.”

tatsuma rubs the back of his neck. “i’m pretty sure that’s considered kidnapping.”

“she came with us on her own volition.”

“i’m pretty sure that’s still considered kidnapping.”

mutsu’s brow furrows and tatsuma recognizes that she’s displeased with his answer. “under whose jurisdiction?” mutsu continues. “the laws of edo don’t apply to this ship, much less this galaxy.”

tatsuma shakes his head. “why don’t you just admit that you enjoy having her around,” he suggests. “that you actually do want to hang out.”

”hmph.”

on their last day together, kagura tells mutsu she wants to show her the castle she’d made. mutsu dreads every step she takes closer and closer to a haphazard pile of boxes in the corner of loading bay, but when kagura announces that they’ve arrived, mutsu sighs.

"welcome to my humble abode!” kagura says. “please be sure to bow down to the queen of the kaientai.”

“the queen of the kaientai?”

kagura grins. “me.”

mutsu sighs. “you are not the queen of the kaientai, kagura.”

“how dare you!”

“and didn’t i tell you not to move the boxes around? we have a strict inventory--”

“the manager said i could use these boxes!” she promises. “he said they just had the 500 million yen bags in them, but that neechan said they were worthless so i should be allowed to play with them!”

mutsu purses her lips. “fair enough.”

later that night, mutsu decides to take a break and after a stop at the kitchens, she walks over to kagura’s room. she walks by tatusma along the way, catching his knowing grin and ignoring it. when she makes it in front of kagura’s door, she knocks softly.

there’s no response and for a moment, mutsu thinks the girl might already be asleep. but the door soon opens, kagura dressed in her bunny print pyjamas and a piece of sukonbu hanging from her lips.

“neechan?” kagura blinks. “don’t you have to do work?”

mutsu smiles. “i’m taking a break. may i come in?”

kagura steps to the side and mutsu steps inside. she puts down the items she’d taken from the kitchen and her grin widens when she hears kagura’s excited cheer.

“rice!” she yells as she claps. “and...eggs?” she blinks before understanding.

“i enjoyed your cooking,” mutsu tells her. she picks up one of the eggs and cracks it on the edge of the bowl. “i thought i would try making it for you this time.”

they eat, chatting about all the different planets mutsu has been to and all the places kagura will visit when she gets older. kagura tells her about the jobs she’s been on lately while mutsu shares tales of the kinds of business people they’ve come across. they chat about everything, both laying on kagura’s bed, rubbing their stuffed stomachs and staring at the ceiling as they talk.

kagura falls asleep first, her head lolling to the side and resting against mutsu’s shoulder. mutsu closes her eyes too, content.

as their ship pulls into the dock, mutsu spots the yorozuya waiting. the dog runs around excitedly while the glasses boy tries to get a hold of him. gintoki leans against a crate, trying to appear at ease, but mutsu can see his tension from afar. it’s only been ten days, but mutsu assumes they must have missed kagura very much.

considering that kagura will now be leaving their ship, mutsu realizes she’ll be missing her as well.

“thanks for the gun,” kagura says. “i’ll keep it forever, neechan. i can’t wait to show it to pachi!”

“don’t shoot him.”

kagura opens her mouth, ready to fight her on that request, but then she sighs. “fine, fine, i’ll save that for sadist then, yes?”

mutsu doesn’t know what she’s talking about so she says that should be fine.

mutsu walks with kagura down to the loading bay doors where she might exit and return to the family she built on earth. what a special girl, mutsu thinks, to be able to find kin on earth and in space. she’ll miss kagura, she can admit to herself. she’ll miss the companionship, the mischievous laughter, the way she looked at her like she was her hero.

when they exit the ship, the dog barks and begins running towards them.

“thanks, neechan,” kagura says, a wide grin stretching across her face. “i had a lot of fun with you.”

mutsu nods and admits, “i as well. i--” she wants to laugh at the words coming to her mind. “i enjoyed...hanging out.”

kagura giggle and then wraps her arms around mutsu’s middle. mutsu isn’t used to physical affection, the extent of it only ever really coming from tatsuma if anyone. her arms hang awkwardly at her sides while kagura just holds her tighter, crushing her in her grip.

“what are you doing?” mutsu asks.

“i’m hugging you,” kagura replies.

“why are you hugging me?”

kagura lifts her head, her brow furrowed as she looks at mutsu as if she’s crazy.

“because i’ll miss you.” kagura eventually pulls away and steps backwards, ready to return to her family here on earth. she raises a hand and waves. “i’ll see you next time! we’ll hang out again, yes?”

“yes,” mutsu promises, “we will.”

fin

#fic #kagura #mutsu

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razberryyum · 6 years

Photo

Gintama manga chap 660

Dear Gintama gods and Sorachi-sama,

If the price I have to pay for having the Shinsengumi return to the Yorozuya's side is to see them slaughtered in front of them by Utsuro, then frankly, I rather they never make it to the scene. I screamed in horror at the sight of Yamazaki being cut down, and even when Kondou got a stab into Utsuro there at the end, I still screamed because I know by now that wound is nothing to that monster. It would only take one split second for Utsuro to turn around and behead Kondou. Even the thought of it is enough to make ill with anxiety. I am not even exaggerating, Sorachi-sama: I literally want to vomit at the thought of losing both Yamazaki and Kondou. If you were to take both of them from us at once, I honestly will have to take a break for a month or more to mourn. And if you plan to take more than those two from us...I can't even deal with the mere notion of that. In fact, I don't even want to give voice to that dread lest the horrifying thought reaches you and implants itself into your psyche when you never intended to head down that Hell of a direction in the first place.

At this point, any additional beloved personnel that comes near Utsuro I will immediately be deeply fearful for since he is virtually unbeatable on Earth. I know Umibouzu has his trump cards, but I am also not discounting what Utsuro is saying about Earth being an endless source of energy for him, and I wish they would pay more attention to that as well. They need to get that monster off the planet immediately! I actually said that out loud at the beginning of the chapter as Utsuro so generously reminded them of his lack of weakness. I wish everyone would just get away, put some distance between them and Utsuro, and then aim those Altana weapons at him. I don't mean to abandon Sadaharu since he's still in that cocoon, but they absolutely cannot engage in close-range combat with him. They are simply no match for Utsuro. As much as I love the Shinsengumi boys and I think sun rises and sets on them, I also am very aware that they are too human to be a serious match against Utsuro. They are hardly a match for Gintoki; they have zero chance with that monster, blind or not. They could chop off one of his arms in addition to blinding him and they will still be no match. I hate that Utsuro is that powerful, and I sometimes do worry that he's in danger of being too powerful, to the point where there's no way to reasonably and logically defeat him, so that's why I am holding on to that tiny bit of hope that maybe getting him off of Earth is the way to go.

And as dire as Yamazaki's injury looked, I am also holding on very hard to the hope that it either looks worse than it actually is—maybe it's only a flesh wound and Utsuro didn't hit any of his jugular veins—OR, and this is a longer shot probably, with Kondou injuring Utsuro, maybe some of his immortal blood will land perfectly into Yamazaki's mouth, transforming him into an immortal as well. Naturally, I prefer the second scenario since there is something comically fitting and sublime about Yamazaki outliving everybody at the end. Of course he'd be miserable as an immortal, probably spend most of them time holed up in some one-room apartment eating anpan while staring at some unsuspecting female across the street. Although, for the first hundred years or so, maybe he could enjoy some happy times with Tama; hopefully as a robot, her mechanical gears will prolong her lifespan past that of a normal human female. That is, if Gengai is able to turn her back on...wow, it's been more than six months since we last saw her and Kintoki.

If it seems like I'm being mildly flippant about Yamazaki's condition, I really am not. If I don't find some light at the end of the tunnel I will probably drive myself crazy with worry until next week when we hopefully find out just how serious is his injury. I have to add his and Kondou's name now to my weekly prayers for Sadaharu's safety. Actually, I am going to throw in Hijikata and Okita's names as well since they are too close to Utsuro for comfort, and it is obvious the sight of all their Shinsengumi brothers being obliterated like that will no doubt spur them into potentially reckless action. There is no way to say this without sounding crass and cold, but if I'm going to be completely honest, if any named Shinsengumi members have to be sacrificed during this fight with Utsuro, I much rather it be either Tetsunosuke or, to a lesser degree, Saitou. It pains me to say that because I do like Saitou a lot, and I don't dislike Tetsu, and I hate to even put that idea out there into the cosmos since it might also make its way to you, but I must still say that because the core four, Kondou, Hijikata, Okita, and Yamazaki, means the world to me. So dear Sorachi-sama, Gintama gods, please, please have mercy: spare the lives of Kondou, Hijikata, Okita, Yamazaki, and Sadaharu, who are in immediate danger of meeting certain death at the hands of that Altana-sucking monster.

Yours truly,

A silly fangirl with yaoi dreams

(-_-)

PS: I am truly grateful that Gintoki and Hijikata have once again reunited and are side-by-side; it was a drop of happiness in the ocean of debilitating apprehension.

#Gintama manga chap 660 #Yamazaki #Kondou #Shinsengumi #GinHiji #Sadaharu #Thank you Sorachi-sama and please have mercy

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gunnerpalace · 7 years

Note

Thanks for being kind to my wallet man. Anyways, I'm sorry if I offended you in anyway by saying "you Ichirukis". I just came by your blog and you seem to be a pretty knowledgeable dude and thus I asked you a question. Hostile little shit? Really? I'm being called a godamn hopeless imbecile here. Maybe you've just read my msg in a different tone as there is an absence of non-verbal communication here. I didn't say anything about you owing me shit man, you just interpreted that way.

And when you are referring to normal people, there tends to be cross cultural differences sometimes. So whatever you consider as being a normal person might not be the same for somebody else. In your terms I sound and act like a hostile IH so I’m not considered a normal person right? I wasn’t paying too much attention to the Bleach media from start to finish so I don’t know all the nitty gritty details such as sales and such. But yeah you’re right. If you don’t want explain you don’t have to.

Oh my god, an apology. Well, now I’ve seen everything.

Alright, look. I’m having a bit of an experience at the moment, perhaps most accurately summarized by Jules from Pulp Fiction going “The truth is…you’re the weak, and I am the tyranny of evil men. But I’m trying, Ringo. I’m trying real hard to be the shepherd.” So I’m going to accept your apology, and take it for granted that you didn’t mean to come across nearly as condescendingly as you did.

Given that, I too will apologize for my behavior. When I see aggression, I get aggressive. It’s just habit. Trigger-happy IFF. So, I’m sorry for insulting you with gratuitous ad hominem. Let me advise that you consider your tone more carefully in the future.

With that said, let me attempt to answer your original question sincerely in a compact fashion without writing a goddamn thesis, because I still don’t want to put in the time to do that. Bleach had exactly three things going for it:

The uniqueness of the IchiRuki relationship and their individual characters. Ichigo and Rukia are unique because they are somewhere between being deuteragonists and Rukia being a supporting protagonist. I would say that she is a “hidden deuteragonist,” in that her influence is constantly felt, even when she isn’t present. Ichigo is not a normal shounen protagonist, like Gintoki, Luffy, Naruto, Goku, or Kenshiro. He doesn’t have a vision or a goal, and he’s a terrible tsundere. Rukia, however, does. Rukia sets Ichigo on his way and enables him to do what he does, and she repeatedly keeps him in check when he flounders. She is what enables him to function. He is what enables her to influence things. They are two parts of a whole, and neither is operational or very effective without the other. This “split soul” phenomenon is unique to them, was a hallmark of the early manga, and echoed on throughout. Although its promise was by no means always lived up to, it was there, and it’s a major part of why IR is a thing.

Character design in general. I’ll give Kubo this: he’s usually good at fashion and drafting relatively memorable characters. (Even if he starts to recycle faces after awhile; it’s not like Dragon Ball/Z/GT/etc., One Piece, and so on don’t.) They tend to have unique designs, if not wholly unique or fleshed out personalities. He’s very good at creating the illusion of depth using them. Over the run of the series, pretty much everyone was able to find a character they liked, if not several.

Mystery. A lot of the shit that happens in Bleach is unexplained, or was kicked down the road for as long as possible before being explained. A lot of it was never explained, stuff like “What was Yoruichi’s bankai? / What was her zanpakutou? / Why can she turn into a cat?” “Who were the other two Great Noble Houses?” “What was the deal with the Soul King?” “How did Soul Society really get started?” “What was up with Komamura?” “What was up with Don Kanonji?” “What was up with Ururu and Jinta?” The list goes on and on. Mystery is alluring, as the writers of Lost quickly figured out.

You will notice what I didn’t mention: fighting, worldbuilding, and plot. So let’s go over those quickly.

Fighting: Bleach’s fights suck. Someone dramatically teleports behind someone else leading to a shocked expression. Someone slices someone else’s arm off. Whoever reveals how their powers work first loses. Everybody gets new, “hiddener, worser” powers. It wasn’t so bad through the Soul Society arc because it was still fresh, but the more power-creep set in, the worse it got. Bleach doesn’t use powers in interesting ways like One Piece or JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. It doesn’t handle a constant ramping up of the stakes as well as Dragon Ball/etc. It doesn’t have the technical interest of Naruto. It’s extremely boring and repetitive. As a battle manga, it’s shit.

Worldbuilding: Bleach’s worldbuilding is a shadow puppet show. It’s literally Plato’s Allegory of the Cave: the illusion of depth and meaning which you only process as such because nothing calls it into question. This isn’t to say Kubo didn’t plan some things (I would say that the theological essence of Soul Society and its cycle of reincarnation makes more sense than most organized religions, since it answers a lot of basic questions like “Where do new souls come from?”) but there were many things he simply couldn’t be bothered with.

Plot: It’s rather apparent, and has been for a number of years, that Kubo reshuffled the plot on the way to the conclusion of the Soul Society arc. That said, the plot was still good up until then. The Arrancar arc was serviceable, Hueco Mundo was bad, and things went downhill from there. The reappearance of the Quincy in Thousand-Year Blood War was a massive retcon and plot hole that makes no real sense.

Now here’s the thing. The Mystery aspect of Bleach was bound up in the Plot and Worldbuilding. The more the latter two fell apart, the more the former became threadbare and could be clearly seen as an effort to string readers along. So much of Bleach’s “promise” turned out to be a polar bear on a tropical island.

The Character design also became wrapped up in Worldbuilding and Fighting, as characters often had no other means to advance, grow, or define themselves, and were relegated to bit parts other than to turn up every two years in some insignificant tussle. The continuing cast bloat only made this worse, as did the dramatically skewed nature of fan favorites.

What didn’t change was IchiRuki. I would argue it didn’t advance as it should have, and rather more objectively, every effort was made to push them into the background in favor of the other five elements, but they were at least consistent throughout, which is why so many people looked forward to their interactions, no matter how fleeting. It was solid all the way up until the final 5 or so chapters, once Kubo had clearly decided to implement his subversive “ending” (what with Tsukishima taking Rukia’s primary role, and so on).

Anybody who wasn’t around for that reason was holding onto vain hope about the Mystery, because of sunk cost fallacy, or were just trying to support their favorite characters or other ships. That’s the god’s honest truth. Bleach’s numbers started to tank after Soul Society and were abysmal by the time of Lost Substitute Shinigami. The sudden end of Bleach was Shueisha finally pulling the plug and disconnecting life support.

Now, you can say that nothing I’ve said here is proof, and that would be true, this is all summary. The proof is out there though (although I cannot be bothered to assemble it all for you), and I think any honest reader would admit the truth of my analysis even without it.

tl;dr IchiRuki is the only consistent positive of Bleach, which is otherwise a subpar fashion manga which never deserved to be counted among the big three on any other merits.

#Asks

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gintamajustaway · 7 years

Note

I remember you mentioning it before too, but I am dying to know more about why you think Jiraia is the worst villain. I had trouble caring about that arc, but I haven’t been able to identify why exactly. What do you think makes his motives weak? What do you, as a writer, look for in the character of a villain? Who would you personally say is the best-written villain in Gintama? Ahhh sorry for all the questions & curiosity! Thank you for all your kind answers on your blog in general!! ^~^

There was no real purpose to Jiraia. He trained Tsukuyo, pretended to die to “protect her,” and then randomly showed up in her life again to destroy the things she loved because ????? He wanted her to be like him again and collectively, there was no motivation behind his actions except that he wanted to suddenly control her. He can easily tell that Tsukuyo is already in love with Gintoki ((Gintoki who has to not only save Tsukuyo, but also push along her development)) and it’s soooo easy for Jiraia to use that against her, then Jiraia apologizes to her and even admits that the whole thing he was doing was worthless. There was legit no point to any of it and that’s probably why you had a hard time caring about it -- there was really nothing there to care about. Sorachi even comments that Jiraia didn’t come out the way he intended.

Everyone has their own idea of what the best type of villain is, but for me as far as Gintama goes, Takasugi was extremely well done. Villains need to be relatable. Jiraia was the BAD GUY because the arc needed a BAD GUY and so he was just pointlessly BAD. With Takasugi, you knew why he was angry, you knew why he was hurt, you knew where his hate was coming from. So even though you’re rooting for Gintoki to get his friend back, you’re also rooting for Takasugi because god, you know why he’s so fucked up and it sucks. Takasugi even knew why Gintoki had done what he did, but Takasugi still harbored that hate and let it fester in a very human and relatable way because that was how he coped. The way Takasugi’s role within the dynamic changed throughout the story has been fucking amazing to watch and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the development of his well-rounded character. The only thing I’m still miffed about is that he knew about Utsuro all along, but meh, that’s my own crutch to deal with.

Questions are fine! I hope I answered you well enough! If not, come right on back and I’ll try again!

#anon

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recentanimenews · 5 years

Text

CR Features Argues About Best Girl of 2018

*Anime Awards voting starts this Friday and WE'RE SUPER EXCITED! However we have gotten so loud with our individual opinions on who we think should win that we’ve been told to duke it out via written words instead of continually disrupting our coworkers (sorry fam).

We’ll hit each category by the time we hit the evening of Anime Awards! Today’s piece gets down to the nitty gritty of Best Protagonist, Best Antagonist, Best Boy, and Best Girl. *Let’s down to business!

Best Protagonist

Retsuko of Aggretsuko

The lady red panda’s life is starkly relatable in some way to everyone. She stresses the necessity of staying true to oneself and taking care of said self by any means necessary. Whether it’s with death metal in a karaoke bar or yoga with the girls despite being an awkward human, decompressing is highly important and she shows that through example.

-Ricky Soberano

Sakata Gintoki of Gintama

Who better to lead the charge than everyone’s favorite lazy-ass, strawberry-milk-loving samurai? Even with war tearing Edo apart, Gintoki has stayed the same lovable jerk--he may have to grit his teeth a little more, he may have to take a harsher beating, but he’s still the same idiot we all cheer for, even when he’s being total slothful garbage.

-Nate Ming

Saichi Sugimoto of Golden Kamuy

Sugimoto is a breath of fresh air for protagonists; he’s vulnerable, but strong, determined, funny, and absolutely devoted to helping other people. I thought he would be a ruthless killer at first, and while he can be, Sugimoto’s relationship with Asirpa has really changed him as their journey went on. Watching Sugimoto change from the somewhat lost and aimless “I just need money” to “I am going to help you, Asirpa” has been amazing, and Sugimoto’s strong personality that grows and develops over time is one of the reasons that hooked me into Golden Kamuy, so him being my pick is a no-brainer!

-Nicole Mejias

Chise Hatori of The Ancient Magus’ Bride

In a year full of super powered heroes with abilities that could level mountains, my favorite protagonist is a bit more modest in her abilities. Chise Hatori does possess powerful magical abilities, but it’s something else that sets her apart--her empathy. All of the outlandish abilities in the world wouldn’t have helped her in her journey if she wasn’t able to feel the experiences of those around her so deeply. The Ancient Magus’ Bride told the story of Chise slowly learning to love herself, and it was only through her ability to love others that this was made possible. And that, for my money, is the most heroic character arc of 2018.

-Cayla Coats

Shirase Kobuchizawa of A Place Further Than The Universe

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Although starring an ensemble cast, it’s hard for me to think of any of the girls in A Place Further than the Universe as a lead besides Shirase. She’s the reason the girls end up on the expedition and, although they all tag along to experience their own self discoveries, it’s Shirase’s story about getting closure. Her shy personality that gets subsumed by stubborn determination in the face of doubters is extremely relatable.

-Peter Fobian

Best Antagonist

Vetto of Black Clover

Vetto was the most infuriating opponent that came out of the Eye of the Midnight Sun. He was a monstrously murderous sadist that made every person surpass their limits but not before making sure everyone experienced a personalized version of despair. The slam to Kahono’s throat was what solidified the anger that still makes my blood boil.

-Ricky Soberano

Lt. Tokushirou Tsurumi of Golden Kamuy

Tsurumi’s not someone you love to hate, which is strange for someone who is arguably Golden Kamuy’s deadliest and most important antagonist. In fact, we all kinda like him, warts and all, which makes him that much more memorable… and that much scarier when he shows us what he’s capable of.

-Nate Ming

Viruses, Parasites, Bacteria and Cancer Cells of Cells At Work

Cells at Work was a charming and amazing show that I really learned a lot from in terms of how the body works in terms of fighting off disease and infection, but a large part of that was the unique ways that the show depicted all of those threats. Each one felt wholly unique and easily identifiable, given traits that fit their natural actions and behaviors, and it made me realize that there are some amazing battles going on inside of my body every day!

-Nicole Mejias

Joseph Cartaphilus of The Ancient Magus’ Bride

My protagonist and antagonist picks are sort of a 2-for-1 deal. Joseph is by far the scariest, most cruel presence in his series, but he is also the most tragic. Condemned to an eternity of suffering because of some misplaced kindness, simply existing for Joseph is unimaginably painful. He exists as a darker version of the traumatized Chise, someone who was transformed into a monster through immense suffering. The conclusion of the series resolves not in a fight to the death, but a surprising moment of tender kindness from Chise--making Joseph the perfect counterpoint to our heroine.

-Cayla Coats

Ladros of Black Clover

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The best villains are always the ones with personality and Ladros has an excess. The magically deranged general of the Diamond kingdom made a huge impact in just a few episodes with his unexpected reactions and schoolyard bullying tactics with a huge voice performance from Takeshi Kusao. Within half an episode I went from thinking he was a jobber to falling in love when he screamed “MILLION LASER!”

-Peter Fobian

Best Boy

Goblin Slayer of Goblin Slayer

Say whatever you want about the single tracked mind of the slayer of goblins: He’s motivated, supremely focused, and skilled. His mission in life to kill beings that not only rape and murder women but utilize women as playthings is admirable and justified. He provides comfort to goblin survivors and we may not know what his face looks like but we know what practically everything else looks like and I’ll take that.

-Ricky Soberano

Honda-san of Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san

Retail is a special kind of hell, staffed by a special, hard-as-nails kind of people. Honda-san is a refreshing retail lead in that he doesn’t hate his job--in fact, he loves it! By loving his customers and wanting to help them find the same joy in books that he does, Honda reminds me of the best parts of working in a bookstore… and a handful of the worst when everything’s on fire.

-Nate Ming

Gobta of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

Okay, so hear me out here. Despite his appearance that didn’t even change when he was given his name, this little goblin seems to be indestructible! Strung up upside down and forgotten in prison? No problem, just summon a tempest wolf and rejoin your party. Be subjected to poisonous cooking? Dude gained the Poison Resist skill to survive, which earns the envy of Rimuru! To add to this, Ranga has unending faith in Gobta due to his quick-witted battling abilities. Gobta is certainly an irreplaceable asset to Rimuru’s group, so don’t make the mistake of underestimating him!

-Nicole Mejias

All Might of My Hero Academia

Deku’s great, but the end of the first cour of My Hero Academia Season 3, All Might absolutely stole the Best Boy throne from him. All Might threw himself into danger in order to protect the world and his body was left permanently stuck in his withered form. This was powerful stuff, but what sealed the deal for me was the beach scene pictured above--All Might punches Deku for his recklessness and then embraces him, dedicating himself to training and raising the young hero into someone truly amazing. He’s just SO GOOD.

-Cayla Coats

Rei Kiriyama of March comes in like a lion

I’ll say it again. Every year we get a March comes in like a lion, Rei Kiriyama is automatically best boy. He’s just a nice kid trying to get by despite some pretty unfortunate circumstances. He’s kind, thoughtful, and the way he experiences the world around him hints at an artistic mind that might never get the chance to express itself. He’s compassionate even to those who are cruel and preoccupies himself with finding ways to pay back the generosity he’s been offered. Rei Kiriyama for president.

-Peter Fobian

Best Girl

Mai Sakurajima of Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai

Mai-san isn’t just a gorgeous, intelligent bunny girl senpai that works as a beloved actress. She also keeps her rascal, Sakuta, in check. Not only that, she’s incredibly mature, understanding, and trusting despite Sakuta’s life being constantly thrown in a loop by cute girls to the point that she didn’t object to Sakuta dating another girl. She makes Sakuta work for it but she can also be shy under that poker face.

-Ricky Soberano

Hina Kawamoto of March comes in like a lion

Probably the most criminally underwatched show this year, March comes in like a lion went right for the throat with an intense story arc dealing with bullying at Hina’s middle school. The complicit cowardice of Hina’s teacher and the professional frustration of her substitute teacher play against the casual callousness of the bully and Hina’s undying fire. She did absolutely nothing wrong--and if she just makes it to graduation, she wins.

-Nate Ming

Asirpa of Golden Kamuy

For me, there’s no argument that Asirpa is the best girl of 2018. She’s equal share protagonist with Sugimoto, but more importantly she’s a BADASS! Hungry? No problem, Asirpa knows how to hunt everything and cook it up. In danger? Her accuracy with a bow knows no equal. Need to track someone? She’s got it covered. There’s always talk about ‘strong female characters,’ and honestly I can’t think of many as good as Asirpa when it comes to anime. Asirpa holds her head tall and stands shoulders above the rest!

-Nicole Mejias

Lily Hoshikawa of ZOMBIE LAND SAGA

Lily is a spot of sunshine in Franchouchou, always beaming with a positive and infectious energy! The zombie idol group is comprised of plenty of eccentric and lovable personas, but Lily struck a rather personal chord with me--we’re both girls that used to be boys. It’s rare to find a trans character in any sort of media, rarer still to find one created with the amount of respect and love that was put into Lily. She’s the shining star of 2018.

-Cayla Coats

Nagisa Aragaki of HANEBADO!

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Nagisa literally stole the show in HANEBADO! Despite the subtitle of “Hanesaki’s play” and the focus on the forlorn badminton player, Nagisa got some great moments as she quietly worked on her own game in the background. The result was a redemption story surpassing that of the main character. Nagisa rose up to defeat the opponent who had previously shut her out so completely she’d almost quit the game. Seeing her triumph was a series-making moment for me.

-Peter Fobian

Anddd that's all folks! Check back in to see us argue about who else we think should win the rest of the Anime Awards categories. Don’t forget to vote for your favorites starting on 1/11!

Do you have a super intense devotion to a 2018 show or character or want your opinions shared to the world about Anime Awards? Send us an op-ed in written or video form. The nitty gritty details are in here and you may get published in a future article!

Who do you think should win: Best Protagonist, Best Antagonist, Best Boy, and Best Girl? Tell us in the comments below!

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Ricky Soberano is a Features Editor, Script Writer, and Editorial Programming Coordinator for Crunchyroll. She’s the former Managing Editor of Brooklyn Magazine. You can follow her on Twitter @ramenslayricky.

By: [email protected]

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