:Episode 2-"Tohru-kun, aren't you feeling nauseous?":
(focus on Yuki)
Episode 2 starts RIGHT after Episode 1 ended, so we
have Tohru running around like a mad chicken, until
the mailman rings and she starts telling HIM that
those animals she's running around with are people.
Of course he misunderstands and just hands her the
letters - well actually Shigure the dog takes them
^o^.
So while Tohru, shaken and sitting on the floor, can
only listen to the three animals talking to each other,
we get introduced to the typical interaction of the
three main male protagonists:
- Shigure - the voice
of reason trying to charm everyone or cajole them
into agreeing with his methods -,
- Yuki - sceptic, ironic,
sarcastic but falling in with Shigure as soon
as Tohru-kun's well-being is touched on (Shigure
gets a LOT of support out of Yuki that way)
- and Kyo - sitting
in his outsider-corner either grumbling or positively
going volcanic as soon as his sore spots are touched
upon (1. how come he can't beat Yuki at martial
arts, though he has trained longer, 2. how can
Yuki hate being part of a family when he so desperately
wants to be part of one, 3. his hot temper).
Eventually Shigure calmly tells Tohru about the Juunishi-course
and Tohru gets her first eyeful (*grins*)
when all three animals change back to naked human
form at once.
~ Eye Catch
Now the secret/cat is out of the bag - so to speak
- it's time for a deliberate discussion of what to
do next. After all, Tohru-kun was invited to stay
at the house, so Yuki and Shigure don't want to be
impolite now. Kyo is annoyed at having a female non-Sohma
in the house in the first place and loses his temper
once more, when Yuki icily and deliberately points
out that he has NO say in the matter, since he is
an outsider anyway (Kyo, the cat: who never was
part of the Juunishi).
Shigure, for some reason, fans the flames: as we will
see - no matter what his background plans are in encouraging
this strange household to live apart from the Sohma
main-house - he will on purpose or just from mischief
needle Kyo, even if the time would have been better
spend in moderating between them. I have the feeling
that he tries to provoke his rages in a controlled
environment, their house, so that Kyo might learn
moderation before something like this happens where
it could hurt others. Shigure never needles Tohru
this way, though, but his female editor (Shigure
is a novelist, both of high literature and romance
novels) has to suffer a lot
in the rest of the series.
This time it happens differently than what we have
already come to expect: Yes, Kyo loses his temper,
but instead of provoking Yuki like he wants to, his
headlong rage leads him to hit a table, which in turn
hits Tohru directly on the forehead and leaves blood
dripping down. Yuki's dark side gets its full introduction
with him icily challenging Kyo and making his disdain
of the cat not only felt by attitude and words, but
by dispatching him with consummate ease. Kyo, on his
part, of course has to save at least enough face to
accept this challenge from Yuki, but his heart isn't
in it (you can see that quite clearly right after
the table hits Tohru: he is completely disgusted and
ashamed of his uncontrolled rage). The series
already shows that it will not be all fun and slapstick,
from the lack of background sound in the drama-scenes
to the fact that Tohru bleeds when struck by the table
or to the look in Yuki's and Kyo's eyes. I find this
fast switch between kawaii, slapstick and melodrama
very effective and often unexpected.
Yuki has developed two very clearly separate parts
in his personality to survive: the quiet and kind
observer, who excels at everything he does, but doesn't
want to have made a fuss about him (and yearns to
be accepted for himself and not his achievements or
beauty) - and the deeply pessimistic, sarcastic ice-man
who - if provoked - actually enjoys humiliating his
opponents (and the more we see of Akito later
on, the more we can see the resemblance, which I believe
to be intentional on the part of the animators).
A lot of this second persona seems to be due to Akito's
obsession with him and vice versa.
Both boys have one common trait, though: they are very
self-centered in their concerns and outlook on life.
Everything that happens to them is reflected on how
it serves them or hinders them... although for Yuki,
Tohru's behaviour has already started holding up a
mirror which makes him see that not all people function
that way, and that his way may not be the best way
to reach the aim that he professes to long for (namely,
independent life from the Sohmas and acceptance from
everyday people).
Tohru accepts the explanation with a lot of awe and
pride in the fact that the Sohmas are trusting her
with this deep,dark secret and is happily exited that
she has finally met her favorite Juunishi, the cat,
although she can see that "Neko-san"
is in no mood to be her friend at the moment. Shigure
and Yuki both treat Kyo's defeat as something minor,
and the humiliated and ashamed Neko-san storms off
in desperation.
Shigure: Tohru-Kun,
looking at Kyo, your dreams about the Cat must be
shattered, right?
Tohru: Eh? Not at all!
Whenever Tohru reflects on Yuki, her awe gets expressed
by the shojo-symbols behind him (flowers, stars,
soapbubbles in pastel colors etc.) and even in
her mind he is always "Sohma-kun"
at this stage. Not really human, but "Oji-sama
Yuki" - willing, for some incredible reason,
to open his life to her. She is awed, honored and
worshipful - it will take her quite some time to accept
Yuki as a fellow human being near her own level, even
though he shares his doubts and fears with her very
soon. I guess you can't uncondition behaviour and
preconceptions that fast. (Imagine becomeing good
friends with your favourite singer or actor... I guess
it's just human :D).
She's also elated that she not only shares and important
secret now, but that she knows how strong the idol
Prince Yuki is in martial arts. No other classmate
knows this. It makes her feel more like a part
of this group of people. Thinking about this makes
her realise she is missing school, and not even her
dirty school-clothes (remember the landslide?)
will make her break her promise to her mother and
herself. Shigure decides to use the time that Yuki
and Tohru are in school to talk to Akito-San,
the head of Sohma-Family, who must learn that the
secret has been disclosed to a normal human. Tohru
is in awe to hear that such a highly-placed person
will hear of her, but the look on Yuki's face, when
he hears that name, foreshadows problems with that
person.
While Shigure waves bye-bye to Tohru (as she always
did to her mother, so I think he does it intentionally
- he sure never does it with anyone else leaving),
Yuki adresses his fears that Shigure plans to have
Tohru's memories erased, as had been done before -
however, Shigure seems to consider the current situation
differently.
Yuki withdraws from the discussion unconvinced and
follows Tohru to school, where her two best friends
quiz her on the state of her school clothes. And of
course the LOVELY YUKI-fanclub tries to intimidate
Tohru again, with predictable reactions by the psychic
Saki. Tohru has to lie to her friends AGAIN - this
time about the secret of Sohma-family and about living
in their house - it does not seem to get any easier
for her open and forthright nature. But she keeps
her promises.
After changing from her training oufit into the newly
laundered school clothes, Tohru is waylayed by Yuki,
whose pessimistic outlook brings him to apologize
for probably having to erase her memory of the Sohmas
(the questions of where she could stay in that
case never crosses his mind):
Yuki: You haven't
said anything, right? To your friends, about
us?
Tohru: Eh? No, I haven't said anything.
By any chance, am I making you worry about that? I
would never say anything! Mother often told me that
only bad people are gabby about ohers!
Yuki: No, that's not it...
Tohru: I give you my oath! I'll seal
it in blood or burn it into my skin! I'll do anything!
Mother used to do this long ago.
Yuki: That's NOT what I MEAN...
I'm sorry, okay...
You're trying so kindly to keep our secret...
but it may turn out that your memories will be erased.
I say erased, but it's more like hypnotism. A long
time ago the secret was revealed just like today.
When I was seven years old, I was playing in the yard
at my parents' house. In the end it became a fuss
where every friend that was there had to have their
memories erased.
FLASHBACK:
YOUNG YUKI: Akito, am
I strange? Strange enough that you have to so desperatley
hide this?
AKITO (behind a rice-screen):
Yes, you are strange. Any human that can transform
into a rat would have to be strange. If regular people
were to know about this, they would feel nausea
/ it would sicken them. They will distance themselves
from you...
END FLASHBACK
It's obvious that introverted Yuki has never opened
his past and feelings to anyone outside his family
this much, no wonder that he stalks off. With a bit
of Furuba-slapstick Tohru manages to accidentally
bump into him, while trying to continue the conversation.
Fortuntately no one else has seen:
 Tohru
(picking up mouse Yuki): Thank you for being so worried
about me. I'm happy, very much so. I'll be alright.
No problem.
If I've found out a secret so serious that the head
of the family must be contacted about it, then I don't
think there's anything else that can be done. S please,
go ahead and use whatever methods will give you and
the others the most peace of mind, Sohma-kun.
(*thinks*: Forgetting about this does, of
course, make me sad. However, I'm very happy that
they accepted me unconditionally, after living in
a tent, so I can put up with it).
After my memory gets erased, please be my friend again,
okay?
Yuki, emotionally touched by Tohru's acceptance, changes
back and puts his school uniform back on. Being a
klutz around the house he can't manage his necktie,
so Tohru offers to straighten it for him. Which
leaves Yuki wondering about the fact she can touch
him so easily, thinking back to Akito's words:
Akito (past): If regular
people were to know about this, it would sicken them.
They will distance themselves from you....
Yuki (present): Honda-san, you don't
feel sickened?
Tohru: No! I'm feeleing completely
better , thanks to you! (she means her fever)
Yuki: No, that's not what I mean...
Tohru: Hmmm?
Yuki: ...So!... How about we go home
together today?
Tohru: Okay!
Tohru (past): please be my friend again, okay?
Yuki: Thank you...(for wanting to
be my friend)
Tohru: No, I am good at tieing neckties!
 Major
turning point for Yuki: Tohru accepts him as is and
values him enough to want to be his friend, no matter
what happens to her. Already amazed at her valor in
the face of adversity, she now becomes the first human
whose friendship Yuki values and trusts - something
very precious in his life. And this time he too views
her through rose-coloured glasses (with the typical
shojo-symbols).
~ Eye Catch ~
Meanwhile we get a first glimpse at Akito (and his
affinity for birds) in his current shape, who has
been informed of the situation by Shigure, and who
decides to accept Tohru's knowledge as a chance "For
Yuki, for Kyo and for myself as well, this may be
a good opportunity" (The color palette
being used whenever Akito comes into play stays in
the dark blues, blacks and greens and furthers a sense
of unease, even if the situation seems calm and zen-like.
Akito's seiyuu speaks very quietly and slowly and
strengthens this impression). Wether Shigure
agrees with this assessment is not readily visible
on his face, but he bows to Akito's decision.
When Yuki and Tohru return from school, she finds Kyo
in her bedroom, repairing the damage that his entry
through the roof has caused (in episode one).
She is rather surprised and unsure how to approach
him (I finally met Neko-San,
but I feel like I'm being hated) - not surprising
considering how violent Kyo's temper has been since
she met him - and the gruff Neko-San tries to downplay
this attempt at apologizing for mistreating her which
is disrupted by Shigure's return and teasing. Shigure
is not very sympathetic to Kyo's storming out of the
house "He will be back
soon. He has no place to go anyway".
Kyo seems to realise his short-comings even if it is
obvious he is not used to apologizing for them, which
at least means he is as self-aware as Yuki - even
when his temperament and desires are at opposite ends
from the Prince. He is honestly ashamed of his lack
of discipline, especially since he has been training
in the martial arts for a long time now.
 When
Shigure reveals Akito's decision to Yuki and Tohru,
her happiness at not being punishe is obvious, but
Yuki - much more familiar with Akito - is visibly
sceptic still. He even questions Shigure in private
on Akito giving in so easily and if it doesn't mean
he might have ulterior motives. Shigure speculates
a bit on that himself quietly, but decides to appease
Yuki's fears.
The next morning Tohru has to deal with the horror
that is the dirty Sohma kitchen, and although Yuki
offers to help, Shigure won't let him, since he is
a klutz around the house (*grins* not very princely).
Tohru accepts the challenge and cleans like mad to
discover a pretty presentable place beneath all the
grime. She presents Yuki with a perfect traditional
Japanese breakfast, since Shigure and Kyo are out.
~ Eye Catch ~
Tohru happily contemplates her amazement at sitting
cosily in Sohma-kun's house, having a meal with him.
Making small-talk she discovers that Yuki has a secret
base near the house, and is all afire, speculating
on what it is like and bemoaning the fact that she
never got to see a secret base yet, as only boys were
allowed in, when she was a child.
Yuki is a bit embarassed at her enthusiasm, but gladly
invites her to come the next time, which Tohru OF
COURSE accepts with great alacrity. Suddenly an angry
Kyo and an annoyed Shigure burst in (Shigure looking
very handsome in a dark suit - as Tohru glowingly
tells him until Yuki compares him to a host in a restaurant),
arguing about Akito's decision to have Kyo live at
Shigure's house and join the same school that Tohru
and Yuki visit (they were just enrolling Kyo there,
actually).
Yuki is NOT happy to hear this either, and Kyo storms
off to sit on top of the roof. Shigure tells Yuki
and Tohru about the four months Kyo spent training
in the wilderness to fight Yuki and while Yuki only
reacts with exasperation to the information (Stupid
guy), Tohru speculates that the reason Kyo desperately
wants to defeat Yuki because he blames him for not
being accepted, just like in the Juunishi story where
the cat was fooled by the mouse. She doesn't want
to be rude though, so she won't ask Kyo directly.
The next day in school Kyo becomes much admired for
being cute himself and for being cousin to the Prince.
Hana-chan realises that he has the same "vibe"
as Yuki, who carelessly disregards questions about
Kyo "We may be cousins,
but we aren't close. I've never even spoken to him."
(with a rather nasty smile on his face).
When Kyo can't take the curiosity any longer and a
girl hangs on to him, he shows his martial arts prowess
(so she can't accidentally hug him, of course)
and then jumps out of the classroom window like his
second form the cat (second story!) and runs off.
It's here that Tohrus difference in attitudes towards
the two boys is made clear, when she tries to soften
his temper and addresses him as "Kyo,
ah... Sohma-kun! I...". Yuki ALWAYS is
Sohma-kun, even thinking about him, but Neko-San
has become Kyo in her mind already.
Not surprising, considering that Kyo wears his feelings
on his sleeve and Yuki reacts and acts very distanced.
For all his ferocity, Kyo is much more approachable
than his cousin who reacts quietly disgusted at this
second temper tantrum which almost reveals Kyo's nature
and leaves the classroom as well.
Watching Kyo run off, Tohru wishes in one of her frequent
inner dialogues with her mother, that "Kyo-San"
would become her friend: "Mother,
Kyo-San really is Cath-San. I wonder if I will ever
become friends with Kyo-San"? ~ END OF
EPISODE.
to watch a slideshow of the most interesting
moments in Episode 2. You better bring some time though,
since the images are of good quality ;-).
*
nau·sea
Pronunciation: 'no-zE-&,
-sE-&; 'no-zh&, -sh&
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin, seasickness, nausea,
from Greek nautia, nausia, from nautEs
sailor
Date: 1569
1 : a stomach distress
with distaste for food and an urge to
vomit
2 : extreme disgust
Source |
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