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		<title>Hmmm...</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Some voice is telling me to revive this blog. <br /><br />..........<br /><br />..........<br /><br />..........<br /><br />..........<br /><br />..........<br /><br />What do you think? ^^</p>]]></description>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:14:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<category>General</category>
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	<item>
		<title>Higurashi no Naku Koro ni -KAI- ep 18</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Most of the events in this episode occurred shortly before and after <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_13.jpg">Satoshi</a> killed his aunt and "disappeared". This has certainly cleared a portion in the overall "<a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_15.jpg">Satoshi</a> mystery". There are, however, remaining unresolved bits, and I don't think they will be answered in the next episode because according to the preview, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_19.jpg">Keiichi</a> finally arrives at Hinamizawa, and that's about one year (??) after this incident.<br /><br />Ack, I can't wait for them to wrap everything up. This is taking too long. <br /><br /><font color="#660000">Episode Rating</font>: <img title="100% entertained" src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/rating/100.png" style="border-width: 0" width="198" height="9"><br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_01_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_02_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_03_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_04_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_05_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_06_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Episode Title: Festival Accompanying Chapter (Matsuribayashi-hen) - Part 5 - The Final Piece<br /><br />A man named Ichirou Maebara was taking pictures of a piece of land when he suddenly hears childish laughter. He looks around sees Rika and Hanyuu running together across the field. <br /><br />In the Hinamizawa school, Satoshi asks for Mion's help in making Satoko cheerful again. Mion thought about letting Satoko play with them after school, but Satoshi said that their aunt may berate his sister once she gets home. Mion then suggests inviting her to join a club that has indoor activities. Satoshi agrees on the idea. He then tells Mion that he's looking for a part-time job to get a present for Satoko. <br /><br />Meanwhile, Rena's mother was telling her not to forget about her medication. She then asks her daughter (calling her Reina) if she really doesn't want to come with her, and Rena silently nodded. The woman then leaves the house with a suitcase. <br /><br />Rena later goes for a bath and she sees the marks on her wrist. They suddenly bubble to life and Rena panics. Hanyuu's shadowed image flashes in her mind and Rena whispers "Oyashiro-sama." The hallucination immediately disappears and she relaxes.<br /><br />The following day Rena visits her neighbor and introduces herself. The woman who opens the door thinks for a while and finally recognizes her. She then calls her Reina-chan. Rena politely corrects the woman and tells her that her name is Rena.<br /><br />Back in the school, Satoshi was walking in the hallway when he suddenly had the feeling of being followed. He looks around but no one was there. Then somebody taps his back and Satoshi jumps up in fear. It was Rena. Rena notices that Satoshi looks pale and asks him if he's worried about Satoko. Satoshi tells her that it's not about that, so Rena comforts him by saying that even though she has just transferred, he can tell her anything. Satoshi whispers to her that footsteps are following him around. Rena surprises him by saying that she knows about the footsteps too.<br /><br />After that, Satoshi went to Irie's clinic to tell him that he's resigning from the baseball team. He explains that he has to go for a while to work so that he can buy a birthday present for Satoko. The kind doctor accepts his resignation however Satoshi adds a very strange request: He would like to take his baseball bat with him. "I think I'll still have some time to practice swinging by myself," Satoshi further explains. Irie saw no problem in that and permits him to take the bat.<br /><br />A few days later, Satoshi's aunt falls victim to the Oyashiro-sama curse.<br /><br />Satoshi finally bought his promised present for Satoko (a large teddy bear). Irie gave him a lift. While heading back to the clinic, Satoshi asks the doctor whether his aunt is really dead. Irie confirms this, but Satoshi would not believe him. He peers outside the window and sees a woman resembling his aunt. "That.. that person! She looks a lot like her... but she isn't my aunt right?" Satoshi asks.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_07_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_08_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_09_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_10_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_11_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_12_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />"They all look like her," Satoshi goes on. "They all look like her! No.. they don't just look like her! It really is aunt. Aunt is still... still... Even though I killed her! I battered her up so bad! Why... Why!!"<br /><br />Satoshi asks Irie if this is happening because of Oyashiro-sama's curse. Irie assures him that there is no such thing as a curse, and asks him to stay focused. Satoshi, however, was no longer listening.<br /><br />"Satoko.. I'm sorry," Satoshi says. "In truth, until right before I bought the teddy bear, I was planning on using the money to run somewhere far away. That's why, Oyashiro-sama didn't want to let me go unpunished. I'm a failure of an older brother..."<br /><br />After that Satoshi starts scratching his wrist and neck, wondering if there are maggots crawling inside his blood. <br /><br />They finally arrive at the clinic and Irie immediately steps out of the car to call for assistance. Two uniformed staff responded to his call and took Satoshi inside. Takano arrives and asks the doctor about what happened. Irie briefly explains that Satoshi has fallen to the symptoms. He believes that Satoshi has been suppressing it with sheer willpower until he was able to buy the teddy bear. Takano remarks that whenever Watanagashi arrives, they always get their their hands on a live sample.<br /><br />Ichirou Maebara, on the other hand, was seen talking with Rika and Hanyuu. "This is a nice village," Rika was saying. "I'm sure there are things here that you didn't have in the city. I have a feeling that you will bring something from the city that can't be found here." Ichirou asks her if he really has such a thing and Hanyuu assures him that he has. <br /><br />Rika goes on saying that they have been living in the village "like this" for a long time. This is why nothing happens or changes. Rika asks Ichirou if he came for a change and he replies that he did. Rika says that they welcome new comers. It is like breaking open an embankment that prevents stale water from draining out of a marsh. "Water is purified if it is allowed to stream. A lake without a current is but a dank marsh."<br /><br />Suddenly, Ichirou was called by the real estate agent. The agent was worried that he has wandered far, and reminds him that they're out of time. Ichirou follows him but throws a quick glance to where Rika and Hanyuu were standing. <br /><br />They are no longer there.<br /><br />Later, Mion sees the agent and it turns out that he's a relative of the Sonozakis. He tells her that there is a prospective customer who seems to want to move in Hinamizawa. Mion was delighted to hear this. The agent then bids her goodbye and takes off. Mion asks her grandmother why she had put up lots for sale when she hates outsiders. Oryo explains that the village needs outsiders. She also points out that ever since Rena moved in to the village, Mion stopped complaining about how boring going to school was. <br /><br />"No matter who moves in, I'm sure the village will change. Thought I hope for it to be an energetic, young one.. Reliable enough for us old timers to be able to leave the village in his care without worries."<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_13_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_14_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_15_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_16_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_17_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/kai/18_18_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /></p>]]></description>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:09:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<category>Higurashi no Naku Koro ni KAI</category>
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	<item>
		<title>Ghost Hound ep 3</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_02.jpg">Masayuki</a> takes <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_06.jpg">Taro</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_05.jpg">Makoto</a> to a little hiking adventure. Their destination: The <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_20.jpg">Kameiwa Respiratory Hospital</a>. For <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_19.jpg">Taro</a>, this is his chance to overcome his fears. His courage, however, may not be enough for what awaits the three of them at the end of their journey.<br /><br />Ep 3 is very intriguing. First; <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_22.jpg">Masayuki</a>'s revelation about himself and the possible reason why he has <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrophobia">Acrophobia</a>; Second; a new link between <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_18.jpg">Taro</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_23.jpg">Makoto</a>; and Third, another mysterious event that happened in the <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_20.jpg">Kameiwa Hospital</a>. Apparently, the story of GH is much more complex than we were made to believe.<br /><br /><font color="#660000">Episode Rating</font>: <img title="100% entertained" src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/rating/100.png" style="border-width: 0" width="198" height="9"><br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_01_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_02_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_03_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_04_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_05_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_06_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Episode Title: Phobia Exposure<br /><br />The story starts with two separate events happening at the same time: One; Makoto playing an electric guitar (with a video-cam positioned across him to record the session), and two; an old shaman performing a ritual inside a dark house. <br /><br />In Masayuki's room, Taro tests Masayuki's HMD (Head-Mounted Display; a device that produces virtual reality). He  looks impressed, and after taking it off he asks Masayuki whether he often plays with it. Masayuki reveals that he plays the HMD as a sort of therapy for his fear of heights. He further explains that the way to cure a phobia is intentionally exposing one's self to it. While they were talking Masayuki's father arrives. Masayuki abruptly changes the subject and asks Taro if he's still afraid of the incident 11 years ago. "I suppose you need phobia exposure too," Masayuki suggests. "Just go to the place where you experienced the trauma."<br /><br />Later, Taro goes home and sees his mother silently preparing dinner. He suddenly asks her if she still has dreams and her mother replies (without turning her back from the chopping board) that she's been on medication thus she does not have dreams anymore. She wishes, however, that the "incident" was also just a dream. Upon hearing this Taro immediately escapes to his room.<br /><br />During PE class the following day, Miyako was having a lively discussion with her friends when her attention was suddenly caught by a vision of young Mizuka and Tarou standing at the school gates.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Taro continues his EMDR session with Hirata. The psychologist asks him if he's scared of his sister and Taro replies that he is not, but he is afraid of "something". After the session, Taro suggested that they use "Phobia Exposure" but Hirata explains that Taro's trauma is more complicated and using the exposure may not be an effective process. He then stands up, signaling the end of the day's counseling, and before leaving he tells Taro that he would like to meet his parents next week.<br /><br />Taro steps out of the room and sees Masayuki patiently waiting for him.<br /><br />After Masayuki's constant bugging, Taro finally agrees to return to the abandoned hospital with him. They decided to meet at the Kameiwa Shrine at 1 PM on Sunday.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_07_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_08_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_09_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_10_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_11_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_12_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Masayuki was delighted, however the smile on his face quickly vanished as he later steps out of the building and suddenly sees a student jumping from the rooftop. The scene shortly disappears and Masayuki tries to control his trembling body by telling himself that he only has fear of heights. <br /><br />Sunday finally comes. Taro arrives at the shrine and quickly apologizes to Masayuki for being late. The other guy assures him that it's OK, saying that someone else is late too. Taro wonders who this other guy was and quickly realizes that "the other guy" was Makoto. Makoto sees Taro and decides to leave, but Masayuki quickly mocks him "What? Despite your appearance, you're a chicken?"<br /><br />Makoto grabs his collar and threatens to drop him to the steep stairs of the shrine. Makoto looks frightened and Taro desperately tells Makoto that Masayuki has fear of heights. Miyako then appears and tells them that the shrine is not a playground. Makoto relaxes and releases his grip on Masayuki.<br /><br />The three finally head to the woods. As they walk Masayuki says that the trek should be about 1.5 hours. Makoto says that it won't take that long and Masayuki asks him whether he has already gone to the hospital. Makoto did not respond. Masayuki then asks Taro if he and Makoto ever talked properly and Taro immediately responds "No". Makoto admits though that they sometimes see each other as the Ogami family is a branch of the Komoris (in other words, Taro and Makoto are relatives). Masayuki smiles, obviously interested in this small piece of information.<br /><br />Taro looks to his right and sees the familiar wooden figure that he saw in his first visit to the woods. He automatically looks up, and imagines seeing the tall faceless man that haunted him in his dreams. He panics a little, then he hears Masayuki saying they should rest for a bit.<br /><br />While resting, Makoto asks Taro if his mother is doing well. Taro responds that she's OK; Taro then asks Makoto about his grandmother, and Makoto simply replies that he doesn't know because he doesn't see her. Masayuki puts in, "You live together though."<br /><br />Soon after, the three resume their trek. Along the way Masayuki reveals that he did some research on the incidents at the hospital. "Other that Taro's case, a variety of other events have occurred," he began.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_13_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_14_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_15_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_16_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_17_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_18_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />"The dam was built 30 years ago, and it dried up a third of the water supply. Back then, high school students will sometimes go to the village for kimodameshi (a game that tests the courage of the participants)."<br /><br />"A year after the dam was built, three teenagers went there. When they entered the hospital... they found a secret underground chamber."<br /><br />"The underground room was like a jail, with bars and everything. One of them entered the room. Right after he did, he saw somebody in there..."<br /><br />"The three guys fled. But later, the one who entered the barred room died."<br /><br />Taro was shaken up by the story. Despite being a local resident of Suiten, he clearly has no idea that this kind of story exists. He looks even more disheartened. Finally, they reached the top of the hill overlooking the dam... and from there, the small dilapidated structure of the hospital.<br /><br />Arriving at the the foot of the hill, Taro wonders why he ever agreed going to this journey. The three of them are now standing outside the "cursed" building and Makoto calmly asks if they should now go in.<br /><br />"Tarou," Masayuki says. "This is the place where you were held captive after you were kidnapped. The link is unknown, but here's the guy whose father committed suicide a week after the kidnapping. The two of you are here at the same time."<br /><br />Makoto tells him that he and Taro need not be together but considering that, he asks why Masayuki was with them. Masayuki then reveals that he has killed a person before. They may have different backgrounds and circumstances but something in their lives happened that cannot be reversed. After that, Masayuki enters the hospital, followed closely by Makoto.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_19_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_20_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_21_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_22_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_23_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/gh/03_24_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /></p>]]></description>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:03:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<category>Ghost Hound</category>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Romeo x Juliet ep 23</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode, Neo Verona was finally returned to the Capulets. <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_01.jpg">Juliet</a>, however, has one more destiny to fulfill. <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_14.jpg">Romeo</a> learns the truth from sexy <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_07.jpg">Tybalt</a> and hurries to save her, but <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_19.jpg">Juliet</a> refuses to be saved. With time running out, the two decide that there's only one way to make the other yield; and that's by killing each other.<br /><br />Well, I thought I'll never be able to see the end of RxJ, with Umai dropping the project after receiving a warning from the licensed distributors. Fortunately, another group resumed the work (Shakespeare), though I have a feeling that it's still Umai under a new group name. Just like Kuro-Hana's case with <a href="http://www.tabulas.com/~crispleaf/category/9115.html">Death Note</a>.<br /><br />Moving on, we're only one episode away from the conclusion of <a href="http://www.tabulas.com/~crispleaf/category/9556.html">Romeo x Juliet</a>. Looking back, this anime has been rather entertaining. The overall story was plotted well, although it did drag a bit, from episode 11 to 16. Despite that, this is truly one of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gdh.co.jp/english/">Gonzo</a>'s magnificent works.<br /><br /><font color="#660000">Episode Rating</font>: <img title="100% entertained" src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/rating/100.png" style="border-width: 0" width="198" height="9"><br /><br /><font color="#660000">Memorable Quote from Episode 23</font>: For you, I will gladly fall to Hell -- Romeo<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_01_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_02_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_03_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_04_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_05_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_06_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Episode Title: Budding ~ For My Love ~ Death's Kiss<br /><br />After Montague's death, Romeo passes the crown to Juliet and her family. He announces that he has to return to the village to bring life back to their lands. Juliet bids him a solemn goodbye and silently leaves the room. Soon after, the banner of the Capulets was raised and the people outside cried with joy.<br /><br />Later, Tybalt confronts Romeo about leaving Neo Verona. Romeo explains that it's better for him to separate from Juliet, as she is now the Grand Duke and has responsibilities to accomplish. Tybalt got angry and reveals that Juliet 's life will shortly end -- She will offer herself to Escalus and suffer eternal torment as the bearer of Escalus' seed. <br /><br />Soon after that, there was a strong earthquake and the pillars of Neo Verona started crumbling. <br /><br />While preparing for the ceremony, Conrad's group realized that Juliet is nowhere to be found. Curio and the others went to look for her.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_07_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_08_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_09_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_10_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_11_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_12_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Romeo eventually finds Juliet crossing a stone bridge and heading for Escalus. They confronted each other, until Juliet draws out her sword to force him back. Romeo accepts her challenge. He unsheathes his own sword, and says, "I want to save you from your eternal torment. If your sin is to strive against your fate, then I will kill you here with my own hands. And take all that sin onto myself! For you, I will gladly fall to Hell."<br /><br />As they begin fighting, Juliet remembers the time that she spent with Romeo. "Romeo.. Because I love you and for no other reason.. I decided to go alone. Because I love you I broke our vow! I kept silent about Escalus because If I had told you, I wouldn't have gone! My heart would waver and I would stop in my tracks.. The truth is that, I want to live too!  I want to live and keep living with you!"<br /><br />Romeo knocks away her sword. He drops his own sword, walks up to Juliet and kisses her. Meanwhile, more and more debris came crumbling down until a part of the ceiling gave way. Conrad and the others found the hole on the courtyard and decided to fly in. They finally saw Romeo and Juliet. Before they can confront the two, however, Excalus' roots pushed from the ground and separated Juliet from the rest.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_13_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_14_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_15_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_16_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_17_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_18_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Ophelia's ominous voice echoes from a distance, saying it's time for Juliet to fulfill her promise. <br /><br />Juliet's breastplate breaks, revealing the mark where the seed of Escalus was planted. From her back she sprouts wings. Juliet stretches her hand for Romeo but was soon pulled into the dark room of Escalus. Romeo hurries to go after her but Tybalt stops him briefly to give him the Montague sword.<br /><br />Rome reaches the foot of the bad tree and immediately climbs to rescue Juliet. One of Escalus' roots shot up and slaps him back to the ground. By this time, it was too late. He sees Ophelia giving Juliet the "Kiss of Death" and his lover falls to unconsciousness.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_19_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_20_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_21_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_22_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_23_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun03/rxj/23_24_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /></p>]]></description>
		<link>http://tabulas.com/~crispleaf/1496674.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:37:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<category>Romeo x Juliet</category>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Blue Drop ep 4</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_02.jpg">Hagino</a> meets with the <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_03.jpg">Master Commander</a> of the Nobal ship to relay the incident five years ago. Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_12.jpg">Mari</a> bonds with two of her classmates outside school, unaware that she's about to face her worst nightmare yet. Things started going wrong after the arrival of <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_13.jpg">Kawashima</a>'s enemies. <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_19.jpg">Mari</a> was taken by ugly thugs but the alien race wants a piece of <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun01/bd/04_22.jpg">Mari</a> too. <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_15.jpg">Hagino</a> rushes to save her, but will she make it in time? Is she ready to turn against her own kind?<br /><br />By this time, Hagino is already certain of her feelings toward Hagino. Much of that was shown in the way she thoughtlessly left her ship to rescue Mari. Mari's actions (embracing Hagino and holding her hand), however, may still be attributed to her fear of the alien race. Having considered this though, I'm still pretty confident that Mari will reveal her own feelings. I just hope it won't be too late for her to do so.<br /><br />Episode 4 was the first to show some battle scenes. The artwork was excellent and I hope there will be more of these in the succeeding episodes, especially now that the aliens have started to move. <br /><br /><font color="#660000">Episode Rating</font>: <img title="100% entertained" src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/rating/100.png" style="border-width: 0" width="198" height="9"><br /><br /><font color="#660000">Memorable Quote from Episode 4</font>: If you wanted to rescue me, do it faster! -- Mari. <br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_01_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_02_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_03_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_04_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_05_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_06_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Episode Title: Insecurity<br /><br />Hagino (real name Ekaril) finally meets with the Master Commander of the Nobal fleet. She shows them a chip containing the events of the accident 5 years ago. Meanwhile, Mari spends her first day-off doing laundry and walking around the halls of the dormitory. She finds Michi in the library and the two hang out for a while.<br /><br />After retrieving the data from the chip, Master Commander Shibariel confirms the following details:<br /><br />- the the Emul Force Drive went out of control;<br />- to repair the severely damaged parts, Blue had to cut off communication;<br />- because of the control failure, the initial advanced landing force was completely annihilated;<br />- one navigator of Blue died;<br />- on the designated landing point, approximately 804 humans near the contact point died because of the effect of the Emul Force wave<br /><br />Michi reveals to Mari that she has been writing various stories ever since she was little. She refuses to let Mari see her works, saying that just can't express herself freely. <br /><br />Back in Nobal, Azanael confronts Hagino regarding the death of her lover. She points her gun at her, but she was immediately held back by two comrades and was later taken to another room. Meanwhile Kawashima takes Mari and Michi to a restaurant owned by a French chef. Hagino then leaves Nobal to continue her investigation about Mari being the sole survivor of the Emul Force.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_07_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_08_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_09_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_10_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_11_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_12_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />While eating, Kawashima reveals that she would like to steal the taste of the steak that they were having. Their conversation went from there to Mari's strange behavior the other day to Michi's story-writing. Michi was perplexed. Mari puts a hand to her mouth and looked at her friend apologetically.<br /><br />Back in their ship, Hagino and Tsubael were alarmed by a movement detected from Nobal. A small-sized flying object believed to be an interceptor probe has been detected. Based on the trajectory from its launch position in the fifth trench, it's destinations fan out to the west and there are 7 possible areas.<br /><br />In the restaurant, Michi admits to Kawashima that she's indeed writing stories. Kawashima relaxes and reveals that she has her own secret hobby: cooking. Mari envies the two of them for being sure on what they want to do. Kawashima flashes her a masculine smile and tells her to be honest with herself. While Mari was confronting her about what she said, two ugly thugs enter the restaurant and approaches their table. One of them grips Kawashima's wrist and told her that they have some unfinished business.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Hagino leaves Blue in a small pod and hurries to the direction of the interceptor probe. <br /><br />In a narrow alley Kawashima beats up the thugs. Michi runs away to call the police but she was cornered by two more and was forced to their car. Mari comes to her rescue and ended up being the one taken. In the backseat Mari kept kicking the guy next to her.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_13_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_14_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_15_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_16_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_17_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/bd/04_18_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Unbeknown to them, Nobal already has its eyes locked on Mari. The moment the car stops near the sea the interceptor descends from the sky. Its destructive appearance scared the thugs. They jumped out of the car and scattered.<br /><br />Mari steps out and starts to run away but she was immediately caught by the interceptor's tentacles. Just as she was about to be "swallowed" by the probe a masked figure appeared from nowhere and starts shooting the machine. It blew up and fell to the waters.<br /><br />In Nobal, Shibariel stands up in anger and calls for an assembly, with the exception of Blue's commander.<br /><br />Mari realizes that it was Hagino behind the weird suit. She gets angry and tells her that if she wants to save her, she should do it faster. Hagino approaches her and gently says that she's sorry. Mari's eyes brimmed with tears. <br /><br />"I was so afraid!" Mari cries, wrapping her arms around Hagino. Hagino was surprised that she did not feel pain when their bodies touched. <br /><br />"It feels so warm," Hagino whispered and embraced Mari back.<br /><br />Later Kawashima and Michi found Mari and Hagino standing at the other side of the river. While waiting for the two, Michi asks Kawashima what she meant when she told Mari to be honest with herself.<br /><br />"What I meant was that Wakatake (Mari) really cares for Senkouni (Hagino)," Kawashima said, sounding as if that was the simplest thing on Earth. <br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun01/bd/04_19_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun01/bd/04_20_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun01/bd/04_21_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun01/bd/04_22_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun01/bd/04_23_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun01/bd/04_24_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /></p>]]></description>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:15:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<category>Blue Drop</category>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Minami-ke ep 5</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Finally, a beach episode! Despite the cold weather I suddenly craved for the sea! I totally love ep 5. <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_05.jpg">Kana</a>'s stunts are hilarious (as always) but what made this episode better than the rest was the part where <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_27.jpg">Kana</a> showed her melodramatic & insecure side.<br /><br />Here, the <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_30.jpg">Minami sisters</a> decided to go to the beach. Three days before the big day, it started raining and desperate <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_05.jpg">Kana</a> was left no choice but to roll <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_26.jpg">Chiaki</a> up in a sheet, hang her, and make her pray to the God of Rain. Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_21.jpg">Haruka</a> is worried about her skimpy swimsuit. Perhaps staying in the house might be a good idea after all. Will <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_14.jpg">Chiaki</a> be able to overpower the Rain God? Will <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_12.jpg">Haruka</a> run to the sand half-naked? Will <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_27.jpg">Kana</a> stop being a bird-brained idiot? (so <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_26.jpg">Chiaki</a> says). Here comes Summer.<br /><br /><font color="#660000">Episode Rating</font>: <img title="100% entertained" src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/rating/100.png" style="border-width: 0" width="198" height="9"><br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_01_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_02_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_03_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_04_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_05_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_06_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"></p><br /><br />Episode Title: Let's go to the Sea<br /><br />Kana realized, while furiously fanning herself, that Spring season is over. The Minami sisters decided to go to the beach. They pulled out their swimsuits but found out that they have outgrown them. Kana and Chiaki went out to buy new ones, leaving Haruka to cook dinner. The oldest Minami looked worried. What kind of swimsuit will her sisters buy for her?<br /><br />While Kana and Chiaki were heading for the store, they discussed the type of swimsuit that they have to buy for Haruka. Kana suggested buying her a two-piece that has strings on the sides. Chiaki totally opposed it, saying that she won't let other people see her sister like that. Kana reprimanded her for being childish. She told her that when a girl enters high school, it's natural to expose her skin as much as possible. <br /><br />"Just think about it," Kana said. "Everybody's exposing their skin, but Haruka will be the only one diving into the water with an outfit like an astronaut's suit. She'll stand out like a sore thumb! And then everyone will ask, 'How many leagues under the sea are you descending? Are you intending to bring shame on Haruka?"<br /><br />After dinner that night, Kana refuses to let Haruka see her swimsuit and told her that she has to wait until they reach beach. Haruka wrestles with her and finally got the paper bag. She pulls out the contents and gawksat the skimpy yellow swimsuit that her sisters bought for her. Chiaki shyly said that she chose that one for her. Kana maliciously whispers to Haruka, "I'm sure you're not so mean as to make your cute littler sister's effort go to waste right?"<br /><br />For three consecutive days, however, the weather was horrible: It was raining hard, and Kana was worried that they may not be able to go to the beach after all. Chiaki argues that thanks to the rain the air has gotten cooler so their original purpose of going to the beach has been fulfilled. Kana then decided to make a "Teruterubouzu" (literally means Shine Shine Priest, a charm used to drive away rain). Chiaki looked away and sort-of coughed, but in truth she actually laughed. Kana noticed this and decided to roll her sister up in a sheet and hang her. Chiaki said "Okay, if you think you can do it, go ahead."<br /><br />Kana did.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_07_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_08_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_09_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_10_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_11_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_12_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"></p><br /><br />So Chiaki was left no choice but to pray to the raincloud. "Raincloud-san, Raincloud-san, That's enough. Please go away." The rain became heavier. Kana said that Chiaki has made the raincloud angry, and told her to do it more politely. Chiaki then goes, "Raincloud-san, you have graced the earth with sufficient moisture. I humbly implore you to pull back." Miraculously, the rain slowed down. Chiaki continues, "You must be worn out after toiling for three days and three nights, Raincloud-sama. Please get ready in case of water shortage and take a rest for the time-being." The rain finally stopped.<br /><br />But a few minutes later, it started raining again. Chiaki spent the rest of her night tied up and consoling Raincloud-sama.<br /><br />The following day, Chiaki's friends, Yoshino and Uchida, arrive. They are joining the sisters to the beach. The step to the living room and find Chiaki rolled up in a sheet and hanging from a metal rod. Kana was beside her, rejoicing on the good weather. While waving her hands around she tactlessly cries that she hates rain. Dark clouds immediately gather, blocking the sun. The group panics. Chiaki comforts Raincloud-sama and the dark clouds went away. Uchida approaches her and claps her hands twice. Chiaki says, "Don't worship me!" But Kana and Yoshino followed suit, clapping their hands and bowing their heads. "Don't worship me!!" Chiaki cries in anger and struggles in the sheet.<br /><br />The group finally arrive at the beach. Kanat noticed that Haruka was wearing a t-shirt over her swimsuit. Haruka explains that she still needs more mental preparation. Hours went by but Haruka still wears the shirt. What's more, she's resolved to sitting by herself and looks as if she plans on staying that way for the rest of the day. Kana leaves the water and tries to strip Haruka but the older Minami is much stronger than her. Haruka got angry and suddenly puts on a sweater. Chiaki tried a much gentler tactic (by sweetly talking to her) but Haruka just won't bend. Kana then told Chiaki, "Let's see which of us can make Haruka take off her clothes first!"<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_13_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_14_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_15_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_16_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_17_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_18_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"></p><br /><br />Following Aesop's fable (in which the North Wind and the Sun tried to make a passing traveler uncloak to see who was stronger of the two), Kana tried to blind Haruka with a mirror, while Chiaki fans her. Nothing worked. Kana then decided to splash water on Haruka. She grabbed an empty pail and ran to the sea.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Haruka suddenly sees her classmates and learns that the volleyball club also went to the beach. She noticed that her classmates wear skimpy swimsuits as well and realized that she doesn't have to be shy after all. She finally takes off her clothes and joins her sisters. Kana was watching from the sea. She later went to the camp of the volleyball club and asked the girls what they did to make her sister strip.<br /><br />After lunch, the group realizes that they've ran out of tea. Haruka and Chiaki's two friends went to the beach store to buy drinks while Kana pulled Chiaki back. She told her sister that she feels as if her value on both her and Haruka is diminishing. Chiaki bluntly says that Kana's value to her is indeed continuously diminishing. After a few stunts Chiaki slaps Kana with an abandoned beach slipper. Kana stands up and walks away.<br /><br />Haruka's classmates appeared, slightly worried that Chiaki is all by herself. Shortly after that Haruka and the two girls returned to their camp with canned sodas. They asked for Kana and when Chiaki was about to admit what she did, Kana runs back carrying a large seashell. She puts it on Chiaki's head and tells her that it looks like a "Kappa's head". Chiaki grabs the seashell and slaps Kana's face with it.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_19_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_20_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_21_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_22_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_23_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_24_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"></p><br /><br />Back in their apartment that night, the phone rings and brown Kana picks it up. It was Yoshino, telling her that she has itches all over. Kana says that people who get red from sunburn will become bald in the future. Chiaki grabs the phone and assures Yoshino that there's no basis for that. Yoshino says that the Minami sisters indeed have different personalities.<br /><br />Later, Chiaki wonders aloud why the three of them are not alike. Kana explains that if the three of them are like Chiaki, there will be trouble. Haruka meanwhile thinks that if the two are like her (Haruka), she'll definitely become a useless person.<br /><br />The phone rings once more and this time it was Uchida. Uchida tells Kana that she shed a lot of skin after coming back from the beach. Kana says that if she sheds too much skin she'll become shorter. Chiaki immediately grabs the phone and tells her friend that the second sister is an idiot and should not be taken seriously. Uchida says that Chiaki's family is nice -- she has an interesting sister and a gentle sister. "Every day seems fun!" Uchida adds. <br /><br />"Picking up where we left off just now," Haruka later says. "It's more interesting if we have different personalities. And I really love both of you who are so different from me!"<br /><br />The two younger Minamis blushed despite their dark color. Chiaki sits closer to Haruka and offers her cookies. Feeling left out, Kana joins them and tries to feed Chiaki with a cookie but her sister refuses to open her mouth. Kana then puts the bowl of cookie on top of Chiaki's head and whispers "Kappa".<br /><br />Chiaki slaps Kana with the bowl.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_25_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_26_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_27_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_28_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_29_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/minamike/05_30_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"></p><br /></p>]]></description>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Nov 2007 03:35:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<category>Minami-ke</category>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Shion no Ou ep 4</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Somebody teach me <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogi">Shogi</a>!<br /><br />In this episode, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_01.jpg">Shion</a> musters the little strength she had left and fights for the other slot in the finals league. Will <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_17.jpg">Shion</a>'s <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogi">Shogi</a> win this time around?<br /><br />Well, I'm quite dissatisfied with how ep 4 ended. It also didn't help that the whole show revolved around <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_18.jpg">Shion</a>'s match with cross-dresser <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_04.jpg">Ayumi</a>. If I had knowledge on <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogi">Shogi</a> I might have thoroughly enjoyed it. But I don't, so I have no idea what to make of this episode.<br /><br /><font color="#660000">Episode Rating</font>: <img title="90% entertained" src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/rating/90.png" style="border-width: 0" width="198" height="9"><br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_01_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_02_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_03_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_04_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_05_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_06_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"></p><br /><br />Episode Title: Demon Move<br /><br />Shion's match against Ayumi finally begins. Ayumi surprised her by playing "nakabisha" (opening play where the rook in front of the King is moved). Shion, on the other hand, calmly mirrored her moves. her stepbrother, Hisatani, other players were watching from another room. Hisatani was worried on Shion kept copying Ayumi's moves. He believes that the distinct characteristic of Shion's Shogi is drawing her opponent to her own style. <br /><br />Among the spectators was the guy who gouged for Shion's publicity (the man who paid another to get scoops about Shion). Furuta introduced him to Hisatani as Kobayashi from Woods Mobile (the tournament sponsor). A short while later Hani joined the crowd to watch Shion play.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Yokohama and his partner continue their investigation on the Ishiwatari murder case. They had their eyes fixed on the surveillance tape. Yokohama finds it difficult to believe that the murderer would show himself blatantly after hiding his existence for eight years. <br /><br />Back in the tournament room, Shion suddenly felt the familiar thumping in her heart. She puts her hand on her chest and looks at her opponent. Shion knows that Ayumi and the guy who saved her in the park are the same person. And even though that was the case, Shion's feelings did not change. She still wants to win.<br /><br />Hani enters the room and sits beside the timer. He noticed that Shion looks pale and wonders if she's sick. He immediately leaves the room and talked to Hisatani. He told him to get Shion home or to the hospital right after the game.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Ayumi finds himself enjoying the game. Unlike with other matches where he fought for money, his match against Shion is where he can truly be himself. He then remembers his master's words: No matter how strong you get, and no matter who you play against, only play Shogi for money. If you forget that, the one who will be hurt is you.<br /><br />Shion, on the other hand, was taking her time in figuring out her next move. The timer reminded her that she only has thirty minutes left. From the other room, Hani said that pros can decide a move in three minutes. After that, they just check to ensure that they haven't missed anything and try to predict in detail what will happen in the match. In Shion's case, she may have just ran out of stamina.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_07_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_08_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_09_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_10_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_11_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_12_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"></p><br /><br />Shion finally moves her piece, surprising her opponent as well as her spectators. Her move was judged as something "gentle," and Ayumi assumed confidently that he has already won the battle. He then makes his move, and from then on putting Shion on the defense. When he thought that the gradeschooler has no more moves left, Shion surprises her by moving a piece, straightforwardly attacking Ayumi's king.<br /><br />Ayumi immediately realized why Shion was looking down at the board the whole game. Shion was actually looking at Ayumi's "King".<br /><br />In the watchroom a man steps in and announces that Saori has won her own match.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Shion is slowly losing her vision. Soon after, the timer announced that she has used up all of her allotted time. That leaves her only one minute per move. Worse, Ayumi is still on the offensive.<br /><br />Their battle wears on...<br /><br />Shion finally looks down at her King and tells herself that he's crying. Shion's eyes brimmed with tears and she childishly covers her face. <br /><br />Once more, Shion lost to Ayumi.<br /><br />After the game, Ayumi asks Shion if she's alright. Shion smiled and flashed her notebook to Ayumi. "Yup I'm fine now," she says. She then writes, "Thank you for saving me six months ago." Ayumi was shocked, dropping her Shogi pieces. Shion, however, continued smiling and tells her "Next time I won't lose." Ayumi stared at her for a while and slowly smiled back.<br /><br />Then the color in Shion's eyes went out and her body fell to the Shogi board.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_13_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_14_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_15_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_16_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_17_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/04_18_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"></p><br /></p>]]></description>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:03:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<category>Shion no Ou</category>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Higurashi no Naku Koro ni -KAI- ep 17</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_09.jpg">Rika</a> offers her blood to save <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_11.jpg">Satoko</a> from being possessed by the Hinamizawa syndrome. Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_16.jpg">Takano</a> is finally one step closer to her life-long objective, only to be dragged down by <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_14.jpg">Koizumi</a>'s death. When she thought she had lost everything, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_16.jpg">Takano</a> sees a new hope. <br /><br />Well, this is a very enjoyable episode (even though the animation was bad). Some old mysteries are resolved (this is a solution arc after all); but a lot of questions are still left unanswered, and judging from the development in the story, we are bound to see more.<br /><br /><font color="#660000">Episode Rating</font>: <img title="100% entertained" src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/rating/100.png" style="border-width: 0" width="198" height="9"><br /><br /><font color="#660000">Memorable Quote from Episode 17</font>: Medicine is something born from one's heart. -- Rika.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_01_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_02_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_03_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_04_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_05_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_06_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Episode Title: Festival Accompanying Chapter (Matsuribayashi-hen) - Part 4 - Plot<br /><br />While Satoko was being detained in Irie's clinic, Takano arranged Satoko's dissection schedule. She showed the paperwork to Irie, reminding him that this wasn't his first time. According to her, their research will not get acknowledged unless visible progress is made.<br /><br />Later, the head of Furude family was telling his wife about the Hinamizawa Syndrome. His wife denied the existence of such virus and told him that this was a kind of blasphemy to their God (Oyashiro-sama). He asked her to calm down and slowly revealed that Irie's clinic is actually a government-funded research facility. He explained that the syndrome came from a small parasite. Rika asked him what this information mean to their family. Her father said that among these parasites, there appears to be a mother existence, called "the Queen", and this existence is only inherited by those with a direct bloodline to the Furude family. Rika then concluded that she's the Queen. Her father said that she is essential to Irie's research in finding treatment for the disease. Her mother was completely against in sending Rika as sacrifice to a suspicious research group but Rika said that she's willing to be examined, if it means saving Satoko and everyone in the village. The following day Rika and her father went to Irie's clinic.<br /><br />After Irie has taken some blood samples from Rika, Takano confronted the doctor about asking consent from the Furudes to examine Rika. She believes what he did was hypocritical. According to Takano, Medical science has always been about fighting current ethics and values to achieve progress. Only through powerful conviction and a will as strong as steel can progress be made.<br /><br />The two of them then went to Tokyo to update their sponsors about the status of their research. Takano received a call from Koizumi. The old man congratulated her, saying that her teacher must already be celebrating in heaven. Takano said that she still has a long way to go.<br /><br />"It is possible for a human's thoughts and intentions to be controlled by a non-human existence," she explained. "Only once I expose the truth will my grandfather's research be hailed as a great accomplishment."<br /><br />Back in Hinamizawa, Irie took more blood samples from Rika. Rika asked whether he has found "a lot of things" from her body. Irie said that they are in the process of developing experimental drugs aimed at suppressing the syndrome. Rika asked whether he has given anything to Satoko yet and the doctor admitted that the drugs are still in the experimental stage.<br /><br />Suddenly Rika's voice changed and she told Irie that there is no such thing as 100% in medical science. But if they keep neglecting Satoko, the fate awaiting her friend will be 100% certain death. Rika said she offered her body for Satoko's sake. Everything that Irie has extracted from her are droplets of Rika's heart that she's offering to Satoko. Rika believes that there is no reason the drugs wouldn't work on Satoko. Meanwhile, Takano had a private meeting with her sponsors and they have decided to proceed with their "Hinamizawa Annihilation" project.<br /><br />A few days later Satoko's condition stabilized. Takano seemed disappointed that the dissection procedure was canceled. She then told Irie that Ooishi wishes to speak with him again. The doctor stepped out of the clinic and firmly told the cop that he will not allow him to see Satoko. Ooishi gently threatened him that he can arrange for a warrant if necessary. But his purpose that day was to talk to Irie about the accident involving Satoko's parents.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_07_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_08_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_09_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_10_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_11_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_12_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Inside Ooishi's car, the detective began telling Irie how Satoko claimed that she was sleeping in the car when her parents fell off the cliff. The odd thing was, one of the workers in the park reported that Satoko came to him in tears and told him about the accident. According to Ooishi, if the "accident" happened while she was asleep, there is no way for Satoko to have known that.<br /><br />Irie knows that Satoko had already reached the terminal stage of the disease before the incident. Satoko had a bad relationship with her parents. This had build up a good amount of stress. Satoko believed that her parents thought of her as nuisance, and that they were planning to kill her. If Satoko was seized by such paranoia, then it was just self-defense to her. That fall wasn't an accident nor an incident. It was a sad tragedy.<br /><br />Back in the clinic, Takano reported to Irie about Rika's fever. Irie wondered whether it was a secondary infection and told Takano to give Rika minocycline. While Takano was preparing the drug she told Irie that she has already ordered the Yamainu to dispose the Houjo couple's deaths as accident. All of a sudden Rika's mother came barging to the clinic asking for her daughter. She doesn't want Rika involved in their experiments anymore. Takano reminded her about the contract but she said that she's already consulted the matter with her husband. They decided to give Irie three months to finish the research. <br /><br />Takano was enraged. She told Irie that they should have not accepted the compromise but Irie argued that they can't just ignore the wishes of Rika's parents. Driven by desperation, Takano decided to use Oyashiro-sama's curse to get rid of Rika's parents. And she succeeded.<br /><br />Karma, however, seemed to have its eyes locked on Takano that day. While she was celebrating her victory she received a call about Koizumi's sudden death. The sponsors had an emergency meeting, and they reviewed the two goals of the project: First, to study the strange disease called the Hinamizawa Syndrome and develop a treatment; and second, to find a military use for it. The organization decided to suspend Takano's research for the second goal. They all agreed that finding the cure for the disease was sufficient and that Irie Institution has already fulfilled its objective. Takano argues that the Hinamizawa Syndrome is more than a local disease that needs to be treated but something that could overturn the very definition of humanity. Her sponsors, however, have already made up their minds. <br /><br />Takano walked back to the village in tears.<br /><br />"It's all over," Takano told herself. "Forgive me, Grandpa. Miyo lost."<br /><br />Just then an unmarked car parks in front of her and the woman from the back seat pokes her head out.<br /><br />"Please step inside, Major Takano," the woman said.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_13_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_14_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_15_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_16_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_17_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/kai/17_18_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /></p>]]></description>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:37:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<category>Higurashi no Naku Koro ni KAI</category>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>Shion no Ou ep 3</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode, the <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_04.jpg">culprit</a> responsible for the murder of <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_16.jpg">Shion</a>'s parents is slowly returning to the surface. <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_19.jpg">Two detectives</a> are hell-bent on catching him before he gets to <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_16.jpg">Shion</a>. Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_16.jpg">Shion</a> was overcome by stress and falls to a short coma. She wakes up and realizes that her last match before the finals is against the first person to ever beat her. Will <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_08.jpg">Ayumi</a> succeed the second time?<br /><br />This episode was slow, but at least we get to see some development in the story. The events were scattered in the beginning and the story only took shape after <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_16.jpg">Shion</a> was brought to the hospital and later wakes up to go to her pre-finals match.<br /><br /><font color="#660000">Episode Rating</font>: <img title="100% entertained" src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/rating/100.png" style="border-width: 0" width="198" height="9"><br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_01_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_02_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_03_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_04_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_05_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_06_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"></p><br /><br />Episode Title: Komaoto [ the sound of Shogi pieces ]<br /><br />In Nagashino police station, detective Yokohama was looking at the threat letters that were sent to Shion and her stepfather Shinji. He was puzzled that one of them was sent through fax and bears a fingerprint. Yokohama was wondering whether the culprit was done by the same man who continues to slip through their nets for eight years. Another detective hurried to his side and showed him blown up pictures of Shion's parents. The cold case was brought up once more following Shion's rise to the women's league.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Shion's stepparents and Furuta were being harassed by media people. Hisatani and Shion were watching from inside the Shogi building. Saori arrived and congratulated Shion for her constant victories by giving her a tight embrace. Ayumi passed by them and gave the three a perfunctory nod. Shion stood up and approached him. The mute gradeschooler stared at Ayumi. Without showing any sign of annoyance Ayumi asked if there was something wrong in his face. Shion shook her head. Ayumi turned around and pressed the elevator button. The doors opened and Hani stepped out. Ayumi bowed to Hani respectfully and stepped in the elevator.<br /><br />Hani asked the three of them to dinner as a sort of victory party for Shion's success.<br /><br />Later, Shinji and Sachiko decided to talk to Shion regarding the threat letter. Shinji told her that they are worried about her but will not refrain Shion from joining the tournaments. They will, however, start telling her about her real parents. Shion's expression changed and started to cry. Her stepmother immediately understood that Shion already knew what happened.<br /><br />That night Shion wrote a letter addressed to her parents. In the letter she writes that she keeps having a "completely red dream of a red room" and knows that her parents were murdered that night. Even so, her stepparents need not worry about her, because everyone is kind to her and she has Shogi.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Yokohama and his partner were able to retrieve a surveillance video showing their suspect entering the convenience store where the threat letter was faxed from. Yokohama described the hooded man as someone around 30 years old, 180 centimeters tall. His partner, however, was not confident that they are only after one person as Shion was attacked in Suginami park, far away from the store. Shortly after that they received a call from another department and were told that the fingerprint on the faxed letter was already lifted and matched. Yokohama decided not to do anything yet until Shion confirms the identity of the culprit and and they have compared the print with the one they have on file for her parent's murderer.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_07_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_08_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_09_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_10_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_11_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_12_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"></p><br /><br />The following day the two detectives showed up at the Yasuoka residence to interview Shion. Sachiko went to her stepdaughter's room and found her oddly sitting at the floor. There was blood on her bed. Sachiko hurries to Shion's side and Shion hands her over a piece of paper. Soon after that Shion collapses.<br /><br />Shion was brought to the local hospital. Shinji admits to Yokohama that his daughter suffered a lot of stress lately and thus lapsed to unconsciousness. Sachiko then showed Yokohama the piece of paper that Shion gave her earlier. The word "King" was written on it. The detective remembered that a single Shogi (King) piece was placed on Shion's father's forehead. He realized that the girl must have really seen what happened. Yokohama asks permission from the couple to let Shion ID some possible suspects and talk about the murder. The Yasuokas hesitated, but the detective promised that he'll only ask for Shion when she has already recovered and he won't interfere in her tournaments.<br /><br />Meanwhile, two men were discussing Shion's publicity on the newspapers. The guy on the driver's seat bribed the other for more, saying that he doesn't really care about Shogi but he wants to catch the fancy of the public.<br /><br />In the Shogi Association Building, Hisatani and Saori had a friendly Shogi match. Their game was shortly interrupted by Hani's appearance, followed by a photographer who took pictures of the three of them (with a hidden purpose).<br /><br />Back in the hospital, Sachiko was shocked to see that Shinji has brought the Shogi board. Shinji explained that the sound the pieces make may wake Shion from her sleep. That night Yokohama paid Shion a visit and found out that her parents have already gone home. He saw the Shogi board and picked up a piece, telling himself how wonderful an original set was. Shion suddenly jerked up from the bed, fully awake. Yokohama panicked and flipped the Shogi board. He immediately called for the doctor.<br /><br />The following day Shinji reminded the doctor that Shion's match will be held the next day. Even though Shion seemed to be recovering the doctor refused to let his patient go. Sachiko was equally against on letting Shion leave the hospital. Yokohama, on the other hand, took his opportunity and asked Shinji for five seconds of Shion's time. He then showed Shion a picture and asked her if the man on it was the one who attacked her six months earlier. Shion nodded. Yokohama immediately left the hospital and the culprit was then apprehended. Unfortunately, he was just an ordinary stalker and not the same murderer that Yokoma has been after for over eight years.<br /><br />The day of Shion's match finally arrives. With the help of her stepfather and Hisatani, Shion escaped from the hospital. She then meets an old foe: Ayumi. Whoever wins will get to the final match and play against Saori.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_13_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_14_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_15_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_16_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_17_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/shion/03_18_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="140"></p><br /></p>]]></description>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:32:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<category>Shion no Ou</category>
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		<title>Ghost Hound ep 2</title>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>I am enthralled by <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_13.jpg">Masayuki</a>'s storytelling in this episode. The overall story of Ghost Hound has solidified. There's also G.H.'s weird background music that I failed to discuss earlier. Instead of the usual piano or violin piece that we hear in most animes, Ghost Hound makes use of static noise and water ripples to emphasize a certain scene or event. <br /><br />In this episode, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_13.jpg">Masayuki</a> uncovers information regarding the Komori kidnapping incident. His reasons for doing such are still unknown. Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_12.jpg">Taro</a> leaves for the mountain to return to the hospital where he and his dead sister (<a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_01.jpg">Mizuka</a>) were found, but along the way he was attacked by <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcolepsy">Narcolepsy</a> and found himself haunted by strange visions of a <a target="_blank" href="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_16.jpg">tall faceless man</a>.<br /><br /><font color="#660000">Episode Rating</font>: <img title="100% entertained" src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/rating/100.png" style="border-width: 0" width="198" height="9"><br /><br /><font color="#660000">Memorable Quote from Episode 2</font>: I'm filled with nothing but terrifying things -- Taro.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_01_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_02_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_03_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_04_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_05_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_06_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Episode Title: E.M.D.R. (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)<br /><br />Taro had a dream about his younger self chasing after his sister in a dark maze. She got to the exit first but was captured by a big figure of a man who smiled down at Taro. All the while her sister's eyes were blurred, as if that part of her face was wiped off from Taro's memories.<br /><br />Taro woke up and regretted seeing that dream. He started describing this to his voice recorder when he heard the automatic click of the stop button and realized that he's ran out of tape. He reaches for a shoe box and placed the tape on its case, then puts it back together with his other recordings. Taro then gets up and prepares for school.<br /><br />Outside, his parents were discussing business with a stranger. The man said that rice harvest was good, but the Suiten dam still lacks water. This statement triggered awful memories to Taro's parents and they both looked away with horrid faces. Thankfully, the man was sensitive. He hastily apologized for bringing the matter up. Meanwhile, Taro was on his way to school. He passed by a sign that says "We oppose the dam - the people of Suiten". Instantly, there were visions of a large dam structure, followed by washed-away roads and buried roofs. From a distance though one building remains rooted to its place, completely unaffected by whatever abomination hit the place.<br /><br />Later, Taro was browsing titles through the library computer when Masayuki steps in and straightforwardly asks him about the incident 11 years ago. Apparently Masayuki researched the case through the internet and learned that Taro's parents used to be landowners of the area, which led to his and his sister -- Mizuka's kidnapping. Masayuki goes on, saying that the thug who kidnapped them were caught and hit by a vehicle when he was trying to escape. He wonders whether the true intention of the kidnapper was money, even if he did ask for ransom that night when the two were kidnapped. Taro interrupted Masayuki by asking whether residents of Tokyo ask frank questions from people they aren't friends with. Masayuki merely smiles back at him. Taro immediately leaves.<br /><br />Masayuki takes a look on the computer that Taro used and checked the browser history. He noticed two titles: Out of Body and Dreams.<br /><br />Masayuki then recites all the things that he found out about the kidnapping incident 11 years ago while Taro was drawing a map of the shrine that he saw in his previous out of body experience.<br /><br />"On September 22nd 1996, the proprietor of Suiten's oldest sake brewery, Yoshida Komori, found his eldest daughter, eight-year old Mizuka, and her younger brother Taro, age three, missing. At midnight, word came from phone from the kidnapper. The kidnapper didn't clearly state where he wanted to receive the ransom money, so he drove randomly around with the Komori siblings in his car. He then unreasonably demanded that the Komori family stop on the overpass of a toll highway and from there throw the bag of ransom money down to him. However, the kidnapper must have realized the police had surrounded the area, for he was nowhere to be seen."<br /><br />"Meanwhile, the police officer that successfully traced the transmission from the kidnapper's prepaid cell phone confirmed the presence of a white van in front of a closed-down Pachinko parlor on the outskirts of Suiten. The police rushed in. The man in the building tried to escape by running onto the nearby prefecture road. He was mutilated by a truck and died instantly."<br /><br />Nakajima pauses as Makoto enters the room. He smiled and went on reading a piece of paper.<br /><br />"Inside the dilapidated building, the prepaid cellphone had been left behind, which identified the dead man irrefutably as the kidnapper. However the kidnapped siblings were nowhere to be found. The kidnapper was Sukuai Yachio, a man who had lived in the Southern Tokyo his whole life. He didn't have any relatives in the area. He had no prior criminal record, and on top of that, his occupation at the time of the kidnapping was unknown. With the kidnapper dead, a single fact remained: four days after their disappearance, the two children remained missing."<br /><br />"The local dam lacked water because of the dry season. Because the low water level made access to the village behind the mountains possible, a feeling of unease spread to even the prefecture police. Using tips from local townspeople, a search began to an abandoned hospital that still stands to this day. The two children were discovered there. However, the older one, Mizuka, had already passed away. Her younger brother Taro was in a state of shock; he seemed to be devoid of life. A few drinks and a light meal had been left outside, but did the kidnapper intend to return immediately? Since the two children were each tied to a bed, they were unable to eat or drink anything. In the six-month span during the kidnapping, children all over Japan went missing. However this was the only case in which a ransom was demanded. The relevance of this fact is indeterminable."<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_07_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_08_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_09_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_10_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_11_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_12_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /><br />Around this time, Taro has reached the steps leading to the shrine that has been appearing in most of his out of body experiences. <br /><br />"October 2nd, 1996. Mr. Hideo Ogami, the second representative of a small religious group within the town of Suiten, the Ogami Worship Assembly, was discovered dead due to unnatural causes. Locked indoors, he cuts his eyelids with a dinner knife, then slits his throat and died. Nothing more was discovered, so the police concluded that it had been a suicide. Because the kidnapping case had occurred only a week before, there were people who suspected a connection between the two events. However, no evidence that has been uncovered indicates a relationship between the two cases."<br /><br />Taro reaches the top. He was short of breath, wondering how the girl can walk steps like these everyday. He finds two old structures: the shrine itself and a house beside it. Taro walks closer and sees the white van parked at the back of the shrine. He recalls the scenes in his dreams and notices the two distinct paths separated by trees. He cries with joy and the man inside the house heard him. The man looks around and sees his daughter -- the girl that Taro previously met in the mountain. Her name is Miyako Komagusu. Miyako has just returned from shopping and was unloading the goods when her father asks her if she bought any sake. She did not reply, instead she asks him if anyone stopped by, explaining that she saw a bicycle at the bottom of the steps.<br /><br />Taro follows one path and found himself walking deeper into the woods. He believes this path will lead him to the dam and straight to the hospital where he and his sister were found 11 years ago. While thinking about the scenes he saw in his out of body experiences, Taro sees a white mist and it engulfed his whole body in one instant. He soon felt that something wasn't right. He looks around, and saw a figure that resembles his sister. Taro calls to her but realizes that she can't be his sister. The figure standing before him took another shape -- a tall shadowy figure of a man that appeared in Taro's dream. <br /><br />Taro panics and runs back, screaming that this was a dream and he has to wake up. As he was nearing the path of the shrine Taro's face bumps to his own spirit and immediately recovers his senses. Taro decides to leave the place but sees Miyako. He gathers up his courage and approaches the girl.<br /><br />Miyako was surprised to see Taro and immediately told him that this is not the sort of place where he can come to play. Taro responded that he doesn't need a gradeschooler to tell him that. He then asks what was was looking at in the sky and Miyako simply replied Ryuujin (God of the Sea in Japanse mythology). She starts to walk away. Taro finally asks her if she saw him the other day (during his out of body experience) and Miyako mysteriously responds, "Maybe".<br /><br />That night, Taro played with his radio device once more and concluded that Miyako really did see him. After that he went to sleep and prayed that he won't have bad dreams.<br /><br />The following day, Taro's counseling session with Atsui begins. They started tackling Taro's dream piece by piece. After a while Taro admits that he's not feeling sleepy. Atsui reveals that they are not actually doing hypnotherapy, but a process called E.M.D.R. The psychologist explains that by stimulating the right and left parts of the brain (through eye movement from left to right), memory of the patient is activated. Further, E.M.D.R. is a known method of alleviating the symptoms of those who suffer from P.T.S.D. (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Atsui understands, however, that Taro doesn't have the obvious symptoms and he only wants to remember the memories that he lost. Taro confirms this, but admits that he's not sure whether he's better off not remembering them.<br /><br />They continued the process. Taro's thoughts were now focused on the tall shadowy man and as Taro's thoughts get stronger and more vivic, Sukuai Yachio's face appears. By that time, Atsui has ended the session. Taro looked terrified. <br /><br />Meanwhile, Masayuki was seen talking with another student on top of a bridge. The student reveals that Ogami Himeko, Makoto's grandmother, was the one who told the police where the two children can be found. Masayuki appears overjoyed by this new information, and says that even though Suiten looks like a peaceful town, disgusting events like these happen one after the other. His schoolmate admits that the hospital by the dam has several rumors about it. Masayuki steps closer, eager to learn more, but then a group of students started crossing the bridge where they were standing. Masayuki decided to leave it for another day and hands his payment to his schoolmate: a video game. He advised the student not to play it too much or he'll get addicted. The student grabs it and runs off. Masayuki picks up his voice recorder and pushes the stop button.<br /><br />He looks below the bridge and found a rapidly-running river. For a moment he stared at it with fear but quickly regains his usual confidence. There was a whirring sound of helicopter blades and the scene returns to the dam...then the ominous-looking hospital where it all began and ended.<br /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_13_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_14_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_15_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"><br /><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_16_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_17_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"> <img src="http://home.graffiti.net/makkun02/gh/02_18_small.jpg" style="border-width: 0" width="250" height="142"></p><br /></p>]]></description>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:14:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<category>Ghost Hound</category>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 13:17:18 +0000</pubDate>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:16:42 +0000</pubDate>
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