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goldenkamuyhunting · 5 years ago

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Would you write a post analyzing Tsurumi as a villain? His characteristic, his purpose, his force, his effection, etc (many other aspects). If it's already done before, pls tell me. Thank you a lot. I love your articles. Keep up the good works. We'll always support you!

Thank you for loving my articles and supporting me!

Now... a full analysis would take really a lot of time so no, I can’t make it right now, but if it’s okay with you I’d love to talk about him a little.

I’ll warn you, I talk about Tsurumi as a character, not as a ‘villain’.

Why not, since Tsurumi clearly does terrible things?

I don’t really like the term of ‘villain’ as it gives me the impression of someone who does things for the evulz and ‘people’s tears are all the pay he'll ever need’, someone who doesn’t do what he does for a reason but due to one or more abnormal vices (pride, greed, wrath, envy…) so that he’s no more human, he becomes the ‘final monster to defeat’ for the hero because no hero can be a good hero if he doesn’t take down a great villain in a battle of good versus evil.

“Golden Kamuy” is no battle of ‘good versus evil’, just of humans versus humans, and Tsurumi, despite what he does, is more than just the big bad for Sugimoto to defeat.

Tsurumi is a character in his own right, representing a certain type of humanity in the REAL WORLD that did, does and will do terrible things, not an abstract concept like ‘evil’.

Dismissing Tsurumi as another ‘Dark Lord’ not only doesn’t do Tsurumi justice as a character, but stops us from realizing that ‘Tsurumis’ exist even in our world, and we need to make sure we will not follow them or ends up as their prey but also that we won’t create them or become them.

So I honestly doubt Tsurumi exists in the story solely to provide Sugimoto a ‘final boss’ to defeat.

Sure, Tsurumi is everyone’s antagonist and sure, Tsurumi is currently the most powerful one.

Tsurumi however works as a foil to represent many things.

For start how a charismatic leader can collect people’s legitimate discontentment, unite them and push them in the wrong direction. Tsurumi’s underlings were soldiers tossed in the war as cannon fodder, poor people who, when they came back, believed they were unfairly punished by the same government who exploited them.

They don’t follow Tsurumi because ‘they want to do evil’ but because they feel the government of Japan horribly mistreated them so they don’t own it any loyalty, and because they hope in a better life, in being saved by Tsurumi.

Tsurumi promises them justice, presenting himself in a way similar to ‘Code Geass’ Zero, who promised to the Japanese, mistreated and discriminated by Britannia, a better world, only Tsurumi does so in a sadly more realistic way.

He doesn’t promise them an equal world, a world better for everyone, a lovely utopia, but a world in which they will have the money they need, which, in the classist world in which they are, will allow them to be given the right that should be bestowed to any human, as they will be no more disposable cannon fodder but appreciated honor guards. In short a world that will be better FOR THEM.

It’s propaganda of course, and it won’t nowhere near as simple as he paints it to be, but it works, it has always worked and sadly it will always work like a charm.

His men believe they were mistreated, his men believe Tsurumi understands them, loves them and will make things ‘right’ for them.

We see it when Tsurumi talks to the nameless group of men from the 7th but we also see it when Tsurumi talks to the men in private.

Tsurumi’s modus operandi is all the same, he listen to their miseries or find them out, offers them his understanding, appreciation and moral support and then presents himself as their savior. He knows what’s better for them, he will take care of them and they… they follow him.

Even Tsukishima, who knows Tsurumi lies more often than not, believes who’ll follow him will find salvation.

Do they really have a chance to find salvation?

Yes and no.

If a man is left in a situation in which he’s abused, mistreated and finds no one to understand him, to offer him a way out, he, more often than not, can end up in troubles.

Edogai could have become a murderer if he kept acting following the voices in his head. Tsurumi freed him from them so in a way he saved him

So yes, the men of the 7th could have ended up worse than they are. Could. We don’t know.

On the other side, if someone saves you from hell merely to use you… well, for you the detriment you’ll get from this, might be worse than the benefit.

And, in this specific case, for a lot of them will be surely worse.

Many of Tsurumi’s men will die to help him reach his goal. They will be judged rebels by central command who might have them executed once it gets his hands on them.

Following blindly someone is never a good idea but it’s so very human to entrust yourself in the hands of a person who seems to understand and care for you and seems to know better than you…

Tsurumi though, doesn’t represent just this but also the way things worked back then.

Selling weapons and drugs was and sadly still is one of the most common means to get a lot of money and it’s sadly something not just men do but even states. States profited and still profit by war and, for a time, they even profited by selling opium.

Tsurumi doesn’t want to get into the weapon and drug trade ‘because he’s bad’ but because back then it was what the leader of a state could do and it’s important to acknowledge this, so we can fight this. It’s not ‘just Tsurumi’, it’s way too many state-heads, way too many politics.

What Thomas says talking with Tsurumi is sadly true, nothing is more profitable than war.

So, Tsurumi Tokushirō (鶴見篤四郎) .

Birth (around) 1866 in Shibata in the Niigata prefecture from an once wealthy family, possibly the 4th son (this is speculated due to his name containing the kanji for 4, something that was very common at the time in the 4th son). Student at Takeda’s dojo he attended to the Imperial Japanese Army Academy where he likely graduated as a Second Lieutenant at the age of 21 and then he was deployed for his mission as a spy in Vladivostok, under the identity of Hasegawa Kōichi’s (長谷川幸一 ) a man who came in Russia as a teenager following his father who moved there due to work and who inherited a photo studio.

As Hasegawa Kōichi he married a local woman, Fina and had a daughter, Olga.

In 1891, when he was 25, Wilk, Kiroranke and Sofia asked him to teach them Japanese. His cover got eventually burned and in the following firefight between the secret police and Wilk’s group his wife and child died and Wilk’s group left.

In 1893, at 27 he’s back in Japan, belonging to the 2nd division of the Imperial Army as a First lieutenant but spends his time teaching at Takeda dojo.

In 1894 Takagi Tomoharu is killed by Usami in front of him and they blame Tsurumi’s horse for this.

In 1894-95 Tsurumi takes part to the Sino-Japanese war with Tsukishima death and, once back from war he is demoted to a position in Hokkaido in the 7th division because Tomoharu’s father resented him for his child’s death.

In 1896 helps Tsukishima to get out of jail, with him will go to Tsukisappo where the special service agency is located and will head back to Russia as an intelligence officer.

In 1900 he meets Koito Otonoshin in Kagoshima.

In 1902 he stages Koito’s kidnapping and he’s sent by the army to help ‘rescue him’ gaining Koito Heiji’s thankfulness.

In 1904-05 he takes part to the Russo-Japanese war, his platoon being the one that raised the flag atop of 203 hill. During the battle of Mukden a shell blew away a part of his brain.

Once he’s back to Hokkaido he orchestrates the murder of Hanazawa Koujirou and, while Inudo is absent, tries to bring to Abashiri the 24 tattooed convicts, who however manages to escape. He’s been searching for them from then, while at the same time trying to find support to built up an army factory and an opium factory in Hokkaido and blackmailing commander Yodogawa so as to have free reins. Among his more notable actions in this time period there’s the assault to Abashiri prison, with the extermination of all the prisoners and guards.

This is his life in short.

Now…

We don’t really know what Tsurumi is aiming at...

...or better we do know he wants to find the gold, use it to buy weapon and built a weapon factory and a opium factory, take control of Hokkaido as a military dictator and probably stretch his control on Manchuria as well.

What we don’t know is why.

It’s clear Noda doesn’t mean him to act just for the evulz, Tsurumi has a motive, a reason why he wishes so that is based on his experiences in life.

Noda gave us hints but he only scratched at the surface of the problem, so it becomes complicate to correctly understand how badly those happenings affected him and why they pushed to become such a person and therefore to understand him and mind you, understand him doesn’t mean to absolve him, it just mean to realize what moved him to do those acts and see if people in his shoes would have also done the same mistakes, the same horrible things.

This won’t make what Tsurumi does right… just human. Humans can do terrible things and if we want to stop this, we need to understand what went wrong along the way.

We’ve always to remember how important it is to understand why people do what they do but that the reason for doing something is just the reason for doing something, not the magical excuse that makes right do something wrong.

For now we’ll know:

- his family once had wealth but lost it.

This could have been due to the Meiji restoration, therefore creating a possible reason for why Tsurumi is resentful toward the government as it stripped his family of their wealth… which is not as painless as some might think.

- It’s speculated Tsurumi could be the 4th son due to the 4 in his name (which could also be just Noda’s pun for death) but he doesn’t seem to have family members alive, relatives that are in the army and can support him.

Did he lose his family as a consequence of the loss of their wealth? Did they die fighting for or against the restoration? Were they executed?

- Noda raised the possibility Tsurumi’s family was... not the best place in which a child could grow.

Some might have missed it, but he had Ogata said two rather famous sentences and then Tsurumi say similar things. As it’s unlikely Ogata influenced Tsurumi, very likely Ogata learnt them from Tsurumi.

1) The first sentence regards how you’ve to kill your parents to leave the nest.

Ogata: “Killing your parents is... a rite of passage for leaving the nest.” (親殺しってのは... 巣立ちのための通過儀礼だぜ ‘Oyakoroshi tte no wa... sudachi no tame no tsūka gireida ze’) [Chap 59] (said after killing Shinpei’s father when the man was about to kill his son)

Tsurumi: “Now, hold on. You will shoot your mother. You will decide according to your will, Edogai-kun... You have to leave the nest. Because your nest was distorted, you grew up distorted.” (ホラ握りなさい。キミが母君を撃つんだ。決めるんだ江渡買くんの意志で...巣立たなきゃいけない。巣が歪んでいるからキミは歪んで大きくなった ‘Hora nigiri nasai. Kimi ga hahagimi o utsunda. Kimerunda Edogai-kun no ishi de sudatanakya ikenai. Su ga yugande irukara kimi wa yugande ōkiku natta’) [Chap 72] (said while encouraging Edogai to ‘kill’ his mother)

2) The second sentence is “Children can’t chose their parents.” though it’s worth to mention that in Japanese the two sentences are vaguely different but with the same meaning:

Ogata: 子供は親を選べません ‘Kodomo wa oya o erabemasen’ [Chap 103] (said when admitting Hanazawa didn’t love his mother, after Hanazawa commented he had no right to blame him for leaving his mother because the woman was insane and disgusting and Ogata should have felt the same as him)

Tsurumi: 子供は親を選べない ‘Kodomo wa oya o erabenai’ [Chap 107] (said when discussing how the Lighting bandit and O-gin’s son is the child of two monsters who however were in love)

Where Tsurumi’s parents abusive like Shinpei’s and Edogai’s? Neglectful like Ogata’s? Monsters like Sakamoto’s child’s?

Or it’s actually in the reverse? We shouldn’t look at Tsurumi’s parents but at Tsurumi AS A PARENT and how his job caused the death of his child? But Olga was a tad too young to ‘leave the nest’....

- The whole Vladivostok mess with Wilk and co.

In that day Tsurumi lost his cover as a spy, his wife and his child.

It’s unclear if he was betrayed by the government as Kiro thought, or if it was a plan to gain Wilk’s and Co trust and, if this was the case, who came up with such plan.

It’s implied though he also holds Wilk as accountable for Fina and Olga’s death

- The wish to be ‘reunited’ to Fina and Olga.

One of Tsurumi’s most famous speech was about having Japanese soldiers’ bones rest in Japanese soil. While it can be just a propaganda speech, it can also be he wishes to conquer Vladivostok to be reunited with Fina and Olga’s bones as he could only carry with himself Fina’s finger (and possibly Olga’s).

We’ll have to wait for more info but surely there’s more to learn from Tsurumi as he’s one of the mysteries that make intriguing this story. We’ll have to wait to discover them or, in the meantime, we can try to have fun guessing. ^_-

Thank you for your ask!

#Golden Kamuy #Tsurumi Tokushirou #Ask #Edogai Yasaku #Wilk #Hasegawa Olga #Hasegawa Fina #Ogata Hyakunosuke

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chibivesicle · 6 years ago

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Golden Kamuy chapter 187 (part 2).

So much stuff happened in this chapter that I decided to analyze it as two parts so make it easier on myself. For part 2, I am focusing on Ogata’s conversation with Asirpa after she realizes he was lying to her (oh so terribly lying at that).

* I would like to note that my ideas do not come from a vacuum; I would like to thank everyone for the discussions on discord. We do not always agree, but I love hearing your opinions and input on the manga. Hearing different viewpoints helps me to approach things from different angles. I also want to send a major thank you to @goldenkamuyhunting for chatting about Yuusaku related things. He really confuses me -_-.*

So Asirpa figures out that Ogata has lied to her about Sugimoto. She then makes the blanket statement that she can’t trust anything that he as said. She pulls herself away from him and aims one of her arrows with poison at him.

Likely unknown to her, she repeats a line which he likely was told when he was in the 27th and bullied. We see her blushing and sweating as she declares this to him. I think this line pushes him over the edge. He lied to her, she figured it out and instead of asking “Why did you lie to me? Who were you talking about?” She physically separates herself from him and decides that he’s untrustworthy.

At that point, Ogata’s mindset shifts. I’d say this is the point where he begins to lose it, he loses control of himself and he’s lost control of the situation. He is now going to react at his most basal level, which unfortunately will be very childish and petty. He’s feeling likely raw emotions that he’s never learned to deal with or accept so he beings what is almost a conversation with himself as his personal philosophy (which has likely been his coping mechanism all these years) is challenged by her own belief system.

The wind howls as he calmly states that he’s out of time. He lifts his hand to his head to fix his hair under his hat, likely this is him doing it out of habit when he’s stressed/uncomfortable (think back to his showdown with Tsukishima at Edogai’s). He has such a look of resignation - he couldn’t pull this off, things do not go the way he wants.

He’s looking down with such a look of heaviness about him. He’s got stress lines under his eyes, his gaze is a bit unfocused and he’s got this odd smile of resignation. I feel so much sadness and disappointment in this panel, is he disappointed in himself? in the universe? life in general that he can’t have something that he wants? Does he see this as denying him “happiness” or does he simply desire to get what he wants? Does this imply that he really wants the gold? Or that him getting the gold leads to something else that he wants? Whether it is him getting the gold or using the gold for another goal, at this point in time he has come to the conclusion that he will not get that goal.

The next page shows Asirpa aiming her bow at Ogata drawn back and her hands are shaking as there is a close up of the poison on the arrowhead. This implies at this moment she has an intent to kill. If you stop and think about it, she’s aiming the arrow at him with the poison. Now, I want to take a time out to look at the times that Asirpa has used her bow against humans before getting back to Ogata. This chapter is about Ogata, yes, but this chapter is also about Asirpa.

So let’s look at some other instances when we’ve seen Asirpa’s arrows not used against bears, horses etc.

The first time that Asirpa aimed her poison arrows at human was Shirashi. This was when she tracked him down via Sugimoto’s sock and she needs him to help her. At this point in time he’s not been very nice to her, he’s insulted her, made racist comments to her and even then he’s not sympathetic to Sugimoto abandoning her. So without hesitation she aims a poison arrow at him point blank.

She demands Shirashi take her to Sugimoto at that moment. She flat out tells him if she shoots him he dies in less than one step. When she pulls back the arrow her face is deadpan. What is scarier is her close up, the light normally shown in her eyes is gone. Her eyes are dark. This is an expression that we do not normally see from her. She has screen tone on her face that makes it looks partially shaded. She is threatening to kill Shirashi if he does not cooperate with her. Is she sweating? No. Does she look nervous? No. She looks stone cold.

The second time she uses an arrow against a human is with Henmi. Realizing that Sugimoto is in danger she takes the time and effort to remove the poison from the arrowhead.

She then is able to shoot him in the arm as he lunges after Sugimoto while his back is turned to him and he is defenseless. This means that she has saved Sugimoto but she has doomed Henmi to death. He doesn’t die directly from her arrow, but he will die indirectly from her actions.

Why do I say she results in him dying as a result of her indirect actions? The next panel shows it. He stops mid swing with the arrow in his left arm. This gives Sugimoto enough time to block his strike. Sugimoto then quickly is able to pull out his bayonet and stab Heimei several times. At this point, Henmi’s fate is sealed, granted there is some orca action in there . . .

But he dies as a result of his fight with Sugimoto.

The last example of Asirpa shooting an arrow at a human is when they have rescued Shirashi and Koito is pursuing them. Sugimoto is injured, Ogata isn’t too keen on fighting Koito as he hangs back and Shirashi isn’t useful in direct combat situations. Sugimoto is struggling in his fight with Koito, and she provides a distraction.

So while riding a horse, she is able to shoot the airship’s wooden frame directly below Koito as he lifts up his sabre to strike at Sugimoto again. This allows Shirashi to jump in and knock Koito off into the trees. While she’s riding the horse, we do not get a scene to see if she removed the poison from the arrowhead or not. I’ve waffled on this point, if she shot a poison arrow at him, it would be a repeat of with Shirashi with an intent to kill. If she cut the poison out, based on her aim, she was very risky, that arrow was close to hitting a lethal part of Koito, he’s moving around, she is etc. Either way, she is very lucky that it only created a distraction and did not result in bodily harm to Koito.

All three of these situations demonstrate that Asirpa gets very close to breaking her vow to not kill anyone. All of these situations were to save Sugimoto. One of the situations lead Sugimoto to kill someone. How does she rationalize the death of Henmi by Sugimoto’s hands? She gave Sugimoto the advantage to kill him.

So going back to the panel. She’s aiming directly at Ogata. He then asks her about something that has been bothering him for a long time.

He states he clearly remembers when they first met over the sniped convict. Asirpa prevented Sugimoto from killing Ogata. His face is shaded while he ask re-iterates that she swore to not kill anyone for the gold. He then labels her as a “pure” person. But he questions her reasoning - now that he knows the full background of Wilk, he knows that Wilk could kill and he could to it repeatedly and with no remorse. So he finds it odd that with a father like that, did he teach her to not kill people? By not teaching her about killing she would remain “pure”? She’s sweating as she is still aiming at him. This implies that Ogata believes that Asirpa’s vow to not kill was an “order” from her father.

If she is following her father’s wishes, she is being groomed to be an icon for the Ainu. Even more so, he asks if Asirpa must be pure like Yuusaku a flag bearer [icon] for the imperial army. Asirpa doesn’t understand what he’s talking about. She doesn’t fully understand the position that Wilk put her in. At Abashiri, Sugimoto asked Wilk why he wanted her to be an Ainu Joan of Arc. Did Ogata see that conversation through his binoculars? Or has he come to this conclusion on his own with their travels to Karafuto with Kiro? Either way, he provokes her to kill him. She should be able to kill him since he says “pure” people do not exist, therefore, she should not exist unless she were regular. What is interesting is that he then states that if there is a reason to kill, you will not be impacted by a guilty conscience. This then implies that when he killed Yuusaku, he had a reason. What that reason him following Tsurumi’s orders? He was ordered to kill Yuusaku, so with that reason he accomplished his mission.

That only other person who was unwilling to kill was Yuusaku. And this was because he was following his father’s instructions/wishes for him. He was an icon to inspire the men but also to help to alleviate their guilt. He’s leading men into battle to kill others but he himself does not kill. He indirectly results in death. Does this actually keep him “pure”? I would say no, Yuusaku is denying that his entire job is to inspire men to kill other men.

Yuusaku is sweating the entire time he says that people feel guilt. Does he feel guilt for not participating? For indirectly resulting in the death of enemy men? This then leads to Ogata telling him that people do not feel guilt from killing and perhaps the are acting.

Ogata interestingly can only explain his own experience to Yuusaku. Since Yuusaku is avoiding getting his hands dirty, Ogata feels that his experience is more truthful since if what he experiences must be closer to what the other men killing feel that what Yuusaku knows.

Asirpa is hesitating and sweating this entire time Ogata is talking to her. He sees her hesitation so he decides to push her further. He goes all in with his dare. He states what was always obvious, he is the sniper who killed Wilk as the wind dramatically blows his hat off. I can’t help but think that Asirpa knew this on some level. She knows he’s a skilled sniper. Who else would Kiro signal to?

Asirpa has such a look of shock, she’s shaded and she’s still frozen in position. He continues to pressure her, that she can do it, that she like everyone else (Sugimoto, Tanigaki, Kiro, Sofia, Wilk, Ogata etc) can kill another person. He then tells her that she is likely the same as him (and implied like the rest of those mentioned). The next panel shows her pull the bowstring back while he smiles back at her. It shows her sweating, stress lines under her eyes, she’s breathing heavily as she keeps aim at him.

His smile looks mighty similar to the one here, when the 7th comes to Edogai’s house to destroy the evidence. Even though he bayoneted the unnamed man, he’s taking quite a beating.

He knows he betrayed members of the 27th and he’s killed some of them - he oddly seems happy getting the wrath of the revenge he likely deserves. This is the same as admitting he shot Wilk to Asirpa. He betrayed her trust and she has the right to kill him, he won’t resist at this point.

Asirpa then de-escalates the situation, as the sound effect indicates, she loosens the hold on the bowstring and lowers her aim. She then tells him that she will not kill him. This is not the answer he wanted from her.

Like with the unnamed man from the 27th, it is apparent that Ogata in part thinks that he deserves to die. He believes that “pure” people don’t exist and he doesn’t want to admit that killing fills people with guilt and that they have feelings and their emotions are tied to these feelings. His philosophy is that he does not feel b/c he has forced himself to not feel. He is acting like a child here, he cannot lose this argument. If she kills him, he wins the argument and he dies. If she does not kill him, it proves his argument is incorrect and he will have to deal with his poorly developed and deeply buried emotions.

How dedicated his he to his philosophy? Very, with the fact that he uses Yuusaku’s own words to turn them back on Asirpa [and Yuusaku]. “It’s simply not right that people like you should exist“ is a direct reference to what Yuusaku told Ogata. He told Ogata that “it’s simply not right for there be people in this world who don’t feel guilt . . . over killing.”

Ogata believes his experience is real b/c it is based in his own experiences. He has killed while Yuusaku has not. It indicates that he literally interpreted Yuusaku’s statement to imply that he [Yuusaku] means that Ogata shouldn’t exist. This is to a man who was unwanted, who already thinks that he is broken and missing something and when he talks to Hanazawa, he will tell Ogata that he is broken and missing something. So for Asirpa to reject him, and then to stick to her belief to kill when she is facilitating the death of many people in the quest for the gold, he can’t help but question how she can exist with such a contradiction. He wants his philosophy, as broken and flawed as, it is to remain his philosophy since that is how he has survived this long. He is not losing this argument even if it kills him.

Based on his fake flashback being a possible childhood dream of how he wanted his father to think of his mother when he was dying, his reason to not feel guilt of killing likely goes back to when he killed his mother. She was the first person he killed and he coped with this event by shutting himself down and pushing all of his emotions and feelings away. Those emotions have never matured and are tied to the boy who made this terrible mistake. So now that Asirpa is making him admit he betrayed her, his easiest option is for her to kill him. That is how little value Ogata holds for his own life and how immature and childish his emotions are.

Now, I’m not saying that Ogata is an immature adult, in many aspects he’s a perfectly functional and fine adult. He does his job with extreme skill and diligence. He’s intelligent and performs and meets expectations. But his emotional maturity never had a chance to mature with the rest of him. Ogata can pay his taxes, balance his cheque book, do all those boring adult things. . .

This idea of “my philosophy or death” now makes the convict of Sekiya fit in the overall story. He was a man who questioned his faith and the existence of God in the face of senseless tragedy. He wanted to know if there was a blessed path and used language very similar to Ogata when he talked to Hanazawa in the tankoban version of chapter 103. Ogata wanted to know if there was a place in his father’s family - there wasn’t.

When Hijikata kills Sekiya, he lays on the ground staring at the sky as he bleeds out to death. He has concluded that God does exist and he is being punished. His hypothesis was proven by his death. He dies happy that has has been punished by God and all of his doubts are answered.

So now Ogata has put himself in the exact same type of situation as Sekiya. He wants to prove his own hypothesis by it resulting in his death.

The chapter then ends with him blankly staring at Asirpa with his rifle raised.

Sugimoto now has the same white eyes that he just had, but now Ogata stares blankly while holding his rifle. What will happen with Ogata’s apparent “permission” for Asirpa to kill him being denied? It could mean that he does feel guilt since no matter what he did, she could not be convinced to kill him. This may also make his definition of “pure” people incorrect, which he would not want. He said that “pure”people do not exist when he refers back to Yuusaku. Did Yuusaku do something we are not yet aware of that makes him not pure? Or does it not exist b/c Ogata killed him? But Ogata cannot go around killing all the “pure” people, that isn’t a logical outcome. Does he want her to state that even though she hasn’t directly killed anyone, she cannot be “pure” b/c she is guilty by association? Does he want her to admit that by becoming involved in the hunt for the gold she has resulted in the death of many people? Just making the decision to go to Abashiri to meet Wilk (information that was leaked to Tsurumi via Inkarmat) to confirm if he was her father resulted in the massacre of 700 inmates at the prison.

Ogata is a very damaged and broken man, but he has pointed out the hypocrisy in Asirpa’s actions in the hunt for the gold. He has set up his showdown with Sugimoto. Asirpa will be forced to face the decisions that she has made up to this point. She has wielded her arrows 3x to save Sugimoto and threatened to kill or resulted in the death of those unwilling to help or who could harm Sugimoto.

Sugimoto is approaching with the intent to kill Ogata again.

She always wants to save Sugimoto.

She wants to save Ogata again, just like in chapter 5.

Sugimoto has no problem with killing other men for her. That is what he wants to do to Ogata. What does this showdown mean? I think it means that Ogata will live and he will have to face that his own belief system is flawed and he must recognize his guilt likely goes back to his mother’s death.

This likely means that Sugimoto will not be able to kill Ogata even though he has reasons to, Ogata tried to kill him and facilitated the shifting of Asirpa to Kiro’s own agenda.

Most importantly, Asirpa will have to face that her own personal belief system has allowed her to keep her hands clean but at the cost of all of the others involved in the hunt for the gold. But “pure” people (as defined by Ogata) do not exist and she should face her involvement in the deadly race to find the gold. That is how she is linked to Yuusaku. Both of them are leading men into “battle” and leading them to kill one another while they do not dirty themselves.

Do I want this to lead Ogata do have a full redemption and realize the errors of his ways and do a 180 in his worldview and personal philosophy? Oh hell no, I do not. I want Ogata to deal with his own guilt from killing and facing his childish emotions. I want him to become more normal and face his pain and damage so that he can heal. If he can have “normal” emotions, I will be happy. I want Ogata to suffer for his actions, but I also want Asirpa and Sugimoto to suffer for their actions. Neither of them deserves a free “main character pass”. No one in this story is entirely good or evil. Everyone has good and bad aspects, everyone brings points to the table that call out the beliefs of other characters in this very morally grey zone.

#golden kamuy #gk meta #ogata hyakunosuke #asirpa #sugimoto saichi #hanazawayuusaku #koito otonoshin #henmi kazuo #sekiya #shirashiyoshitake #golden kamuy chapter 187

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jojotier · 6 years ago

Note

what’re your thoughts on sugimoto for the character ask thing? :)

I actually did him before, but by God have things changed since now and the last time I did these rounds….

Favorite Thing: Last time I espoused on how much I adore Sugimoto’s curiosity and willingness to listen and learn all about the Ainu from Asirpa, as well as his kindness, but this time I wanna focus on how devotedly selfless he is for those he loves!! Even though he was singularly focused on Asirpa, he still paused his pursuit to make sure that Shiraishi could be saved from the ice drifts and so that he could assure Shiraishi that he was alive- and God, 188 just showed how much he’s willing to put on the line for those he loves!!

He’s even willing to save the life of someone he positively abhors if it means making sure that Asirpa doesn’t have to become a murderer. This selflessness is even more impressive when you realize- he’s putting this all aside while also fighting impulses to give into even more violent episodes due to his injury. It’s fantastically realistic writing from a narrative standpoint (while a brain injury in the frontal lobe can drastically change personality, anything extreme usually doesn’t last in the long term- look at the case of Phineas Gage- and the previous personality shows at least in some measure) and makes his selflessness all the more poignant.

Least Favorite Thing: Some of his more extreme behavior post-injury is kind of annoying, like the willingness to do weirder shit, leaving his photo with the Russian couple, etc- but then again, this is a very, very minor gripe. My real least favorite thing is the same as last time. Stop sympathizing with bearfuckers, fucker

Favorite Line: It’s still his speech about how soldiers have to rebuild themselves on the battlefield in ch100. The persimmon scene is, in general, the single most powerful scene in all of Golden Kamuy so far, but this may simply be due to extreme personal bias. I’ve been quite close with a lot of soldiers in my family, and Golden Kamuy has one of the most genuinely realistic depiction of PTSD and survivor’s guilt that I’ve ever seen in media, as is their effect on military families.

Once, in an uber, I was talking with my driver, I mentioned my Dad had been in the military and served in Iraq. He said that when a soldier serves, their whole family serves, and thanked me for my service. I still remember that- because when my Dad was in the army, I was about 5. This is becoming more of an Asirpa meta, but the persimmon scene encompasses that principle- that not just the soldier themselves serve. All the closest family and people the soldier meets afterward, who the soldier shares their closest lives and struggles with, in some measure are changed by war, even if they don’t know what war is. And it shakes me.

brOTP: Asirpa and Sugimoto- aka, Knife Dad And His Lesbian Daughter. Or like, maybe it’s Gay Dad and his Knife Daughter? I don’t remember how it goes. In any case- I love the sibling dynamic between these two!! Sugimoto obviously has come to love what Asirpa teaches, and enjoys spending time with her, and their joking, teasing manner of doing things is so realistic to how actual siblings act. No cutesy “Big bwother uwu” or “lil sis umu” shit here- Asirpa mercilessly tears into Sugimoto whenever he’s a dumbass and in turn, Sugimoto teases Asirpa for being a tiny goblin who’s weird about poop. He’s obviously endeared, but he doesn’t patronize Asirpa, and I think that’s beautiful

OTP: Oh SugiShira, definitely. Like I still love Sugimoto with a lot of the cast (Umeko and Toraji OT3 included,,) but SugiShira is definitely my all time fave in terms of content and making content! Their relationship is amazingly fun and sweet, and let’s face it- any boyfriend who lets Sugimoto go All Out with courtship is a boyfriend who Sugimoto is gonna go apeshit over, the fuckin sap. The big runner up is SugiKoi, because I still love TsukiKoi but also I love a good rivalmance. Like a rival-to-lover thing that’s ACTUALLY rival-to-lover and not just hatefucking

nOTP: Remember how last time I was like, oh, OSugi’s a soft no, I can’t see it in canon but in a well done au maybe? Yeah lmao not anymore!! Abashiri happened, Ogata kept getting worse and Sugimoto has irreparable brain damage that will affect how he forms and maintains relationships with other people and how some of his motor skills go for the rest of his Life. I won’t even lie and say “oh maybe you can convince me with an au uwu” because fuck no you cannot. Especially after 188 when people were going apeshit over the eye vore- yall were being fucking weird and that was weird. So yea. Goodbye, Osushit

Random Headcanon: Sugimoto stayed and held vigil over his family’s house as it burned to the ground. Even though the smell of burning flesh made him nauseous, even though his family lay inside, voices slowly being snuffed out and coughing finally coming to an end, he stayed and watched until the flames subsided. It was to make sure things didn’t become a wildfire, he told himself, but in truth he watched because he was mourning. His parents were already as good as dead- had it really been right to hasten them to their graves? And for what, he own fleeting reputation? I headcanon that even now, Sugimoto can’t look at a large fire without the pit of his stomach twisting in on himself. Not without the smell of flesh coming to him. Not without remembering the life he burned.

Unpopular Opinion: Or I guess this is a popular one, idrk? Either way… Sugimoto is a way better guardian figure than Wilk was, despite his few mistakes and general lack of needing to parent Asirpa- he’s not there as Asirpa’s father, just as her guardian and brother and best friend. Which is far more than Wilk has ever done, the son of a bitch, training Asirpa and trapping her in this gold hunt as he did under the guise of parental love.

Song I Associate with him: I still associate Still in Saigon with him, but after he started getting those psychotic violent episodes, I started ALSO associating Back From the Dead by Skillet with him. Lord knows that’s probably how everyone feels when Sugimoto appears again lmao- and plus, it acts as a great battle track for the Ogata/Sugimoto showdown we never got!

Favorite Picture: I’ve looked at this for five years now

#golden kamuy #sugimoto saichi #god!! I Love Him #So So Much

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yukiwrites · 8 years ago

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Where Your Loyalty Lies [7/??]

Summary: Kamui’s kidnapping didn’t go as planned – She managed to get away and ended up at Silas’ doorstep. They were raised as siblings, but she has always felt different; her fangs and red eyes and urges to run amok, what did they all mean? Will going to the castle as the Crown Prince’s retainer help her find more clues? Will the war between Nohr and Hoshido be the answer to everything?

Previous chapter <=> AO3 <=> Next chapter

Chapter 7: Her own agenda

The night sky was cloudy, as though resonating with her inner turmoil.

Sitting on the grass, soon she found herself overwhelmed by the depth of her choices. At first, Kamui had chosen to be a knight just so the training could tire her enough in order to keep her inner beast at bay. Then, after learning more about war, the then-squire realized that she could hone her skills to not kill but incapacitate her enemies so as to end the war without bloodshed.

So she could finally have all the means necessary to find out what she really was.

And now... Where should she place herself into? Even though she still had the mindset of not killing if it could be helped, she knew she would still need to kill. Could she do it, knowing that the battle might be against someone from her past?

“Da’s a depressin’ face yer makin’.”

Surprised, Kamui looked over her shoulder to see her Sir Gallahard towering behind her, holding a wooden mug with one hand and a round wine bottle with the other. He passed her the tankard, giving the young woman little choice but to accept as he sat beside her.

Silently he poured the wine onto her mug before chugging it down directly from the bottle right after. “Ya wanna talk ‘bout that family meeting ye just had? Ya were all shining-eyed after hearin’ bout the royal invitation an’ all.”

Kamui woefully looked at the dark liquid before placing it beside her and holding her legs close to her chest. “I’m hoshidan, Master.”

There was a moment of silence before the knight burst into laughter. “Bahahaha!! Isn’t that great, girlie?!” He had to dry a tear that almost fell from the mirth. Kamui jumped in surprise, her eyes as wide as they could.

“M-master?!”

Gallahard chugged down another big gulp of wine before turning to his apprentice, a frown and a smile painting his face at the same time. “Why, one less mystery ‘bout yer roots, right?” He nodded and Kamui could only follow suit, her brow furrowed in confusion. “’s ‘nother reason for ye to finish this war quickly AND peacefully like ye wanted, right?” He leaned one arm on the grass and looked up to the shy moon, behind all those clouds, “’cause, y’know’, before ye just didn’t wanna kill for the sake of winning, but now yer got a REAL reason not kill -- though offa course you’ll still have to do it.”

“But that’s exactly--” She finally caught ahold of herself and meant to retort, but he raised his index as he held up the bottle, making her obediently shut up.

“People’re gonna die at war, Kamui; regardless of side you choose to fight for. Even if yer commanding yer soldiers not ta kill, the enemy might not be as kind and ya’ll lose people. Bein’ hoshidan, nohrian, chevois or whatever means nothin’ if yer heart’s not on the right place.” The mention of her name instead of the alias he usually used made the knight-to-be widen her eyes and take his words to heart. He looked right into her eyes and pointed to her chest. “An’ I know yer’s is. What does blood matter for if yer marching to end all wars?! Bahahah! It even makes it more poetic! Imagine: ‘honorary nohrian soldier reveals being from Hoshido after endin’ the war; peace was inside our borders all along!’” He mimicked a herald making a public announcement, finally stealing a giggle out of Kamui.

“Do you really think so, Master?” She whispered more to herself after she stopped laughing, her eyes trailing down to the mug beside her. Finally finding it appetizing, she took a sip before drinking it down in one go. “No, that’s right.” She said after wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, “as long as I have my own personal goal in mind, I won’t need to fear.”

“Now da’s my girlie.” He hit her on the back, almost making her lose grasp of the mug.

“Thank you, Master. For teaching me yet another lesson.” She gave him a half bow as she got up on her feet. “I’ll keep on trailing the same path I chose for myself as a child, but I still have one thing to do before the Knighting Ceremony.”

He raised an eyebrow. “And what’s that?” He asked as she slapped the dust out of her pants. She offered her hand to him, but he didn’t plan on getting up.

“I need to pay my respects to a very dear friend.”

After saying that, the young woman once again bowed to her master and headed back to the mansion. It hasn’t been long since she left, so she found the tea room almost the same way as before.

All three nobles straightened their backs with her return, the air suddenly thick with anticipation. Her complexion, however, betrayed the atmosphere: It was resolute. With one glance, Silas could see that both of them would indeed continue on their paths as knights.

“I have returned,” she said after entering, heading to her mother and crouching beside her. “Mother, can I see the golden hairpin?”

Confused, Eleonore looked from her husband to the table onto which lay the ornament’s box. “Of course, my dear,” she hesitantly picked the box and handed it to Kamui, “but, my daughter…”

“Thank you, Mother. And don’t worry.” The young woman contemplated the pin: it was as thin as her finger and as long as her hand, two golden butterflies resting on each tip of it, each of them decorated with small, blue and silver stones. She closed the box and brought it closer to her chest. “I’ll follow the path to knighthood as planned.”

Silas sighed in relief, his shoulders sagging visibly; he knew his sister well, after all. Leopold was in the middle of doing the same as Eleonore stiffened. “Is that really what you’ll choose, Kamui? I shall respect your decision regardless, but perhaps you could think for a bit more.” The Lady said, putting a stray strand of hair behind her daughter’s pointy ear.

Kamui closed her eyes and slightly shook her head. “I am certain, Mother. Master’s helped me see that, no matter the side of the war I choose, my goal will remain unchanged. Since I already have more chances of crawling my way into the heart of the nohrian army, I’ll do so from here.”

Finally did the Lady’s shoulders sag. “I see. Then I have at least one thing to thank Sir Gallahard for.” She said with a bittersweet smile. Eleonore’s never hidden her dislike for her children’s master, but she had to admit that he was one of the reasons Kamui could face her life so headstrongly.

“Yes, we all do,” the young noble concurred, then looked at her family one by one. “Before following that path, however, I want to visit Kaze,” she gripped the box on her chest, “and deliver this to him; so he can know that he managed to protect me until I could do so myself.”

Eleonore’s eyes immediately itched with tears; Leopold breathed in with effort as Silas lowered his head. Finally his friend could rest.

“That is a noble goal, Kamui,” Lord Lantanoir said, securely holding his wife’s shoulder as she struggled not to cry, “but I’m afraid you will not be able to visit him now and arrive in time for the Knighting Ceremony.”

As soon as the words were out of her father’s mouth, realization sank in. “Oh, no…” She took the free hand to her mouth. She and Kaze had been found on the Lantanoir Summer House, which was at least 15 days away by carriage. Even if Kamui hurried and only stayed for a day or two, it would still take over a month for her to be back – and the ceremony was less than 20 days away.

Silence stilled the room as they tried to think of a way. Before they could even bring up going after the ceremony, Kamui herself whispered an “and the Royal Ball will take place seven days after our ceremony.”

“They will send a carriage to get us and everything.” Silas added, his heart heavy and frown deep. Would Kaze have to wait, after all?

Unknowingly, Kamui had sat over her legs as she hadn’t done in years – the hoshidan style of sitting Eleonore only recognized after studying about the country’s customs – and took one hand to her chin, in thought. Her heart bled for her no-longer forgotten friend. She finally felt not accomplished, but at least a bit more whole: her past was revealed and her savior, treated with respect, at least after what that Hans fellow did.

Hans, Kamui thought with an angry frown (Silas could swear seeing her eyes glow momentarily and almost panicked). There was at least one person Kamui wouldn’t mind not showing mercy to, but even that would have its time.

“It’s okay, Father, Silas.” Kamui raised her head to meet both men’s eyes. “I’ll just need to go after the ball. We’ll be closer to the summer house at the capital, anyway.” She closed her eyes, both hands holding the hairpin’s box. “Don’t get me wrong; I still want to go more than anything – but I also can’t afford to let Kaze’s sacrifice go to waste by losing these opportunities.”

Silas acknowledged with a sad smile. “Yeah. I’m sure he won’t mind. Besides, I’ll be with you to fulfill my promise with him.”

Kamui’s smile mirrored Silas’. “Thank you, Brother. Now, more than ever.” She gave him a formal hoshidan bow, then turned to the older noblewoman. “Mother, would it be alright if I kept this? I want to go to Kaze right after the ball.”

Finally stopping the urge to cry, Eleonore gave her daughter an uncertain nod. “Of course, my dear. But is it wise? You will be going to the heart of Nohr carrying such expensive and rare hoshidan adornment…”

“It will be okay, Mother. I shall never needlessly take it out of my luggage.”

That seemed to have calmed the mother’s worrying heart as she sighed in relief. “Very well. Do be careful, my dear. I couldn’t bear to lose either of you.” She caressed the young woman’s face, looking from her to Silas.

“I will, though not right now. We still have much to rehearse for the ceremony, right, Brother?”

“Yeah, the Master’s not going to let us off until the very last day.”

The ceremony would consist of three parts: The hunt, the swordplay and the vows. Both knights-to-be would need to prove themselves in front of their elder chevaliers in order to receive their blessings at the document Sir Gallahard would forward to the castle on the next day.

The first part, during the early morning, they both would set out to hunt at the neighboring forest to catch the guests’ and, by consequence, the entire party’s, lunch. If they would choose to team up or no, that would depend on them. During late morning, while the game they caught would be prepared, the second part would occur: The swordplay, would, as the name suggests, consist of a mock battle between both squires with their preferred weapons -- Kamui with an axe and Silas with a lance.

After witnessing their prowess in both managing weapons and ability to survive in less than ideal conditions, both siblings would change to sets of decorative armors and kneel before their master so as to say their vow in order to abide to the chivalry code.

And, lastly, there would be a commemorative dance at the ballroom at night. The chevaliers would sign both Silas’ and Kamui’s pledges on the next day, when it would be immediately sent to the castle.

Their days preceding the ceremony were filled with practice: weapon, dance and speech practice. They went back to the wooden swords so as to prevent any serious injuries and, at night, they would train their step coordination. Not two days after receiving Kamui’s reply of her life choice, Eleonore sent for the famous dressmaker Miss Margaretta: it would be her daughter’s first ball out in society and she needed to give a good impression on the Prince.

Similarly, the best tailor, Mister Mountcroix, would design Silas’ outfit for the occasion. Both of them stayed for a week in order to come up with designs that would fit the pair of siblings before leaving with the promise of delivering the complete set in time.

Two days before the ceremony, Master and apprentices sat as such for the last time -- starting from the next morning, the chevaliers and their families would start to arrive and there would be no more time for lessons. The three of them sat around a campfire, each holding a wine bottle in hand: Kamui’s was half-way done, as was Gallahard’s. Silas’ was untouched (he shared that trait with Eleonore, who didn’t enjoy much drinking).

“I’m not even worried ‘bout yer gig, y’know? I just know that ya’ll gon just go an’ make me even prouder than I a’ready am.” The knight said, raising his bottle over the fire, followed suit by both squires.

“Despite knowing the truth behind my past, I’ll remain loyal to my own convictions and to myself -- I’ll honor my vow and fight until I see the last of this war.” Kamui proclaimed, looking at the fire’s reflection on her bottle. Silas shared her proud smile as he nodded.

“I’ll uphold my vow and protect those in need so we can see the last of this war -- and so I can finally fulfill my promise.” He was the one who clinked his bottle on the other two before bringing it to his lips, prompting sister and master to follow. They spent the night in the wilds one last time.

The next day, as expected, Gallahard’s friends and acquaintances started to arrive with their families -- wives, husbands and daughters (strangely, none of them had sons) -- and were allocated accordingly. Kamui and Silas spent the entire day entertaining and receiving the guests, a total of fifteen families arrived until the late hours of the night.

Kamui barely slept, finding herself in front of her brother’s room after a few hours of shifting on her sheets -- the itch had happened sometime last week, so she needn’t to burn energy, but wanted to talk. “Brother? You’re awake, right?” She whispered by his door, doing one of their secret set of knocks.

“I am, Kamui. Come in.” His voice sounded distant and when the young woman opened the door, she found out why: he was writing by his desk, illuminated only by the moonlight.

“What’re you doing?”

He glanced at his sister before going back to his paper -- it was actually a drawing of the forest at night. “It’s just an old habit of mine.” He rested his back on the chair and stretched his arms. “Ever since the first night I saw you entering the woods, I started looking out of my window every night. After a while, I began drawing what I saw.”

“Whoa, Brother,” she gasped, placing both hands over the chair’s backrest, looking from above Silas’ head to the wonderful black-ink drawing of the scenery immediately in front of them. “If you didn’t want to be a knight, you could as well go into art or something. This is great!”

Silas blushed. “Really? Everyone who saw my drawings just said I committed a crime against humanity or nature or something.”

Kamui clearly didn’t understand of art, but to call that a monstrosity? Outrageous! “Surely you showed it to the wrong people. It looks amazing to me, Brother.” She nodded, glancing down at him.

Little did she know that the sight she was seeing was being distorted by the moon’s faint light -- her brother indeed didn’t have the hand for art; but they wouldn’t find out about that in the forseeable future: in the next break of dawn, they would be ready in front of the forest so as to set out to hunt, the fifteen chevaliers plus their Master there to witness their entry.

“It’s finally tomorrow, Kamui.” He said after a while of silence. From above him, his sister smiled.

“No, Brother. Tomorrow is only the beginning.”

“May your hunt be bountiful and the gods watch over you.” Gallahard announced after all knights were present to watch as both apprentices went in together. The rest of the morning would be spent in their getting ready to wait for Kamui and Silas’ return outside of the main mansion, at the site prepared exclusively for the festivities: an outdoors long dinning table right beside a fenced arena and an open kitchen; all leading to the side entrance that had a direct path to the ballroom into which the vows and the dance would happen.

Both knights-to-be came back in the late morning and all could see how they decided to team up: they carried a large elk between them (all four legs tied onto a long branch they used to share its weight). Kamui also had three hares tied to her belt.

“Bahahaah! They’re tryin’ to fatten us, mates!” Gallahard guffawed after seeing the size of the game. “Yer were THAT ‘fraid we’d starve, lad an’ lass?”

They put the prey down with a thud as two cooking assistants from Gallahard’s Power Attachés effortlessly took it away to start immediately working on it at the open kitchen (a third one came to get Kamui’s hares). “You can never be too sure, right, Master?” Kamui huffed as Silas nodded.

“Aight, now go wash up -- I want yer swordplay to happen while yer still winded because of the hunt. Show me yer stamina, kids!”

“Yes, Master!” They acknowledged in unison, running to the back in order to freshen up and catch their weapons. Their score was even for once, but Kamui hadn’t forgotten how Silas got the upper hand at The Pit.

She would win that one!

They fought with real weapons -- an axe and a lance -- though not their custom-made ones. It would be game over if either Kamui managed to break Silas’ spear or if he got his tip in a deadly spot of her body. They almost danced with the rhythm of knowing each other’s movements, the young woman used to twirling her axe around despite not being her own weapon; the man doing the side steps he learned so as to avoid his sister’s powerful thrusts.

The band was instructed to keep silent during the fight, making the audience’s anticipation even higher: knights and family were distributed around the long table in front of the fenced arena, all of them too focused on the deadly dance to worry about the scrumptious smell coming from the open kitchen.

In one of Silas’ side steps, Kamui found an opening and quickly sneaked in front of him, using not her axe, but her elbow in an upwards thrust on his lance to destabilize his balance. It was a matter of a split-of-second reaction, but before he could think, the weapon was shaking on his hand and his feet were tripping due to Kamui’s sudden approach..

The wives, husband and daughters gasped while the knights nodded in agreement as Silas fell and Kamui put her axe in front of his face, his lance rolling beside them.

Huffing, Kamui smiled with the victory. “Now we’re even, Brother!”

Silas laughed, extending his hand as Kamui put the axe away to help him up. “Technically, you’re winning from 34 to 33, but yes; we’re even.” He agreed, knowing that she was referring to the Pit battle.

The siblings couldn’t talk much for their master came running after jumping the fence, quickly slapping them both on their backs. “Congrats, girlie! Da’s one more lesson for ya to learn, boy!” He looked from one to the other, then turned around to the audience and spoke as loud as he could, making the no-longer-squires flinch. “And now tha’s this is done with, we gotta finally fill our bellies!” He raised one arm, and all of his Attachés followed suit.

“Aye!” They yelled back, swiftly bringing the food in.

Indeed they would have leftovers from the party -- the elk and rabbits were more than enough to feed all guests as well as the servants after cleaning up -- Kamui and Silas sat side by side in the middle of the table, their Master in front of them. They had the time of their lives.

Sir Savoy, for example, knew a lot of folk songs and almost danced over the table while asking for the band to accompany his singing. His brother-in-arms, Sir Stenham, had to maul his friend back to his room before he brought dishonor to his family in his mirth. Both sat right beside Kamui, who only raised her mug in approval.

Dusk slowly covered them like a blanket, signaling that the last and most important part of the ceremony was about to begin: The reading of the Vows.

After seeing everyone in, the knights-to-be excused themselves so they could change to their decorative armor -- Silas’ a replica of a Great Knight’s and Kamui’s one of a Hero’s. Sir Savoy still had the rosy cheeks of a drunk, but managed to stay on his feet and, most of all, silent while the Lantanoir siblings entered the ballroom.

Side by side, they took step after step towards the leftmost corner of the room, where their master waited with a silver rapier in hand. Kamui and Silas, despite the nervousness inside their chests, smiled proudly. The day had been bright, fun and fulfilling; they knew that all chevaliers around them already considered both youths as fellow knights, but they needed to solidify their vows.

As they approached the three steps separating them and their master, Sir Gallahard nodded in acknowledgement to each of them: He was wearing his old battle armor, polished to perfection -- at that moment he truly looked like a seasoned knight, the weight of his scars and eyepatch filling both siblings’ hearts with pride for training under such a great warrior.

Kamui and Silas took the knee, as they rehearsed, and lowered their heads. Gallahard’s deep and loud voice reverberated throughout the ballroom and inside their chests. “Silas Lantanoir and Kamui Lantanoir. You both are here to pledge your loyalty to the Nohrian Army. However, to do so, you must vow to follow the chivalry code.” The knight started, his usual accent nowhere to be found.

“I am aware.” The siblings said at the same time.

Gallahard smirked and raised his chin. “What do you vow?”

Kamui raised her head, one hand over her chest same as her brother. “I vow to always defend the honor of someone in need.”

“I vow to always speak the truth and be loyal to my lord,” Silas accompanied, both of them talking in unison.

“I will always be brave and will never run from a challenge nor avoid a treacherous path,” Kamui continued, looking right into her Master’s eye, her smile growing as she spoke.

“I will be charitable and will defend any helpless I find in my path.” Silas finished.

“I vow to protect the honor of my lord and my land until the battle’s won or my blood’s spent.” They said with a louder voice, receiving a proud nod from their master before he touched the tip of the rapier on their shoulders.

“It is here, by witness of Dame Ahelissa, Dame Aphra, Sir Berold, Dame Betsy, Sir Brianus the Selfish,” as he said each name, the knights ackonwledged with a step forward, “Sir Everard, Dame Gussalen, Sir Isambard, Sir Meraud, Sir Raluf, Sir Reimond, Sir Savoy, Sir Stenham, Dame Theffania and Sir Thibaud the Bodyguard that I, Sir Gallahard the Watchful dub thee, Silas Lantanoir and thee, Kamui Lantanoir, rightful Knights of Nohr.”

The newly knighted duo rose after their Master had put the rapier away and turned to the guests. Eleonore couldn’t help but sob, a handkerchief over her face; Leopold shed silent and proud tears, his chin raised up. The siblings looked at each other and saluted the nohrian way, with a closed fist by their chests.

“It will be an honor to serve beside you, Sir Silas.” Kamui smiled proudly, as did her brother.

“Likewise, Dame Kamui.” He flicked his head towards her and they both walked towards their chevalier elders as Sir Gallahard stayed behind.

Claude swiftly helped his lord take off the armor – Gallhard didn’t mind a skirmish or two, but putting on that armor again always brought back memories from the days he lost his loved ones. The butler worked quickly and by the time Kamui and Silas were done thanking the veteran knights, Gallahard was back with his smile, wearing the simple garment he had on underneath the armor.

“Blargh,” he massaged his jaw, approaching the duo, “I dunno how ye both can talk all proper like that all the time, lad and lass. I think my tongue’s numb.”

“You were very dashing, Master.” Silas bobbed his head in respect as Kamui put both arms on her waist.

“It felt weird, like a different person. But so cool!”

“Ya, nuff flattery from yer both. You still gotta open the ball, go ‘n.” He pointed his chin to the middle of the room, prompting both siblings to exchange looks and smile. Silas bowed extravagantly, raising one hand to his sister, the other one behind his back.

“Would you give me the honor to share your first dance as a knight, Dame Kamui, ma’am?”

The young woman giggled, giving her hand to Silas. “Why, yes, I would, Sir Silas.” She replied in the same manner, being led to the center. They held each other at the waltz’s characteristic closed position and waited for the band to start the song.

The decorative armors didn’t get in the way as they treated through the dance floor, their synchrony inviting the bolder chevaliers to dance alongside them. Eleonore and Leopold followed, and soon the ballroom was filled with swirling couples, painting it with a wide array of colors.

The festivities were scheduled to break through the night towards dawn, but it came to a close as exhaustion filled the wives and husbands (as well as the manor’s Lord and Lady) of the knights. Even after seeing everyone off, Kamui felt too giddy to turn in for the night.

She had done it.

She gave the first step towards her goal.

Even if she felt accomplished at the moment, she knew that there was a whole life of fighting ahead of her; of servitude and loyalty. She didn’t want to break the vow she painfully acquired if the worst came to pass and she discovered some dark truth about her past, but she wasn’t going to stop following her own convictions.

Once again Kamui found herself at the clearing, watching the now starry sky – it truly looked like it was responding to her state of mind. Twenty days ago, it was cloudy as her heart, but now – now it was open, like the path ahead.

No matter what the Crown Prince had in store for her (she would try not to have high expectations, though her Master constant mentioning of the retainer issue made that very hard to accomplish), Kamui would face him head on and comply.

The ball was only seven days away, but the carriage would come to pick them up in two days. Their written pledge and arrival at the castle would happen almost at the same time, and Kamui wondered if it would take long for the army’s officials to process their paperwork. She planned on visiting Kaze, but the trip would take twenty days at the earliest and she worried that she would have to straight to the job after coming back.

Which was why she was taking her customized axe with her, alongside the sword her parents gave her after the party was done; a matching pair with Silas’, with the family crest on the hilt and their names carved on the blade.

A new day was about to dawn, as well as a new life for the mostly-secluded noble. She would meet many people and, despite the positivity she felt from her family and friends about her outward appearance, she knew she had to be on her toes. Especially because she still had no clue about what she was.

Kamui nodded to herself, getting up from the grass and slapping the dirt away from her pants. “Don’t let it get to you, Kamui. You lived your entire life thinking short of yourself because of these,” she touched her pointy ears, “but stay strong, no matter what they say!”

The next day was as busy as the previous one: The chevaliers signed the pledge during the morning, and some were already prepared to leave by the time the mid-day meal was served. A courier from the castle had been summoned to take the paper a week previous, so he immediately set out after the end of the signatures.

Kamui and Silas hadn’t time to rest, though: Apart from entertaining the rest of the guests, they still had to take the last fitting for their new clothes for the ball as well as to prepare their luggage for the voyage. Kamui made hers significantly bigger due to her side-trip (they came to an agreement that Silas would remain in case they needed to explain why Kamui wasn’t home if their paperwork was done before her return), and wondered if she should take at least Clara with her.

“Hmm,” Silas crossed his arms, deep in thought, “but they said that we shouldn’t bring our own servants since we’ll be ‘appropriately attended’, as they worded.”

“Yes,” Kamui leaned her cheek on her palm, tired of packing, “but I’ll go to the summer house straight from the ball; I’ll need Clara with me, if not for helping in and out of the dress, at least to aid me during the trip.”

“Ya, but no servants from outside’re allowed in the castle, girlie. Even if ya bring her, she’ll hafta stay in an inn or somethin’ till the ball’s done an’ gone.” Gallahard said from the door. He took two steps inside, “’s not easy to enter the castle, an’ I don’t mean literally, since there’re all those ‘open castle days’ n’ stuff.” He crouched beside the kneeling young woman as she turned around from the bed to him. “’s hard to be summoned to work there an’ even harder to leave. I managed to leave His Majestyfulness’ side ‘cause I saved his neck durin’ a battle an’ he granted me a royal favor n’ all that malarkey.”

Kamui sat over her legs so as to face her master, glad to be taken away from packing. “Yeah, you’ve told us something about that battle before.”

Silas crouched down to complete the three kneeling nobles beside a bed with hundreds of clothes scattered around, a frown painted across his face. “But does that mean that we’ll never be able to leave?”

“Bahahah!” Gallahard threw his head back in laughter, “yer not even in yet an’re already thinkin’ ‘bout leavin’? Relax, boy!” He slapped Silas’ back, making him choke, “survive yer first dozen o’ battles ‘fore ya think ‘bout that.”

The young man glanced at his sister, worried about her future condition. However, he slowly breathed in. It was her own choice; he just needed to be there for her. “You’re right, Master, as always. Let’s get this packing over with quickly – we don’t know at what time the carriage will come to pick us up tomorrow.”

Kamui groaned and complied. A month of travelling with that much luggage and no attachés. Great.

Their goodbye was a fast, though heartfelt one. Eleonore felt light for finally telling the truth to her daughter, and seeing her follow her own path without the burden of her past – or at least with the burden lighter – made the mother that much relieved. Leopold never erased his proud smile for the ceremony had been beautiful and the pledge was already on its way to the castle. Two knight children.

“Try not to be overwhelmed about the palace, you two.” He warned, squeezing both siblings’ shoulders. “It’s a big and foreign place, but I have faith that, as long as you’re together, you can do well on your first ball out in society.”

Eleonore hesitated in reaching out for her daughter. “Kamui, about our talk…”

The young woman turned to her mother. “Hm? About what, Mother?”

“Your suitors, my dear.” Eleonore glanced from her husband to her daughter.

The night before, they had talked about finding a husband or a wife for Kamui. She complied, but of course told her mother to keep in mind that they should know about her job being a dangerous one and her motive a secret until they were ready to listen.

“If it’s a woman, Mother, we will need to know each other first, so it might be complicated…” She took a sip of her tea. Marriage has always been a common topic ever since she was a child, so she didn’t mind her mother choosing a suitor for her. But for the lineage to continue in a same-sex marriage, the spouse’s bonds would have to be very strong for a Bond child to be born unto them.

And Kamui was sure no lady would have time nor patience to court a newly knighted full of work, dangerous missions and little time off such as herself.

“Of course, dear. I shall keep that in mind when selecting someone. We will speak through letters, hm?” Lady Lantanoir caressed Kamui’s face before turning to her son. “And you, my child? May I also look for suitors for you? Do you also have a preference?”

Silas choked on the tea he was sipping and unambiguously glanced at Kamui before hiding his face under the handkerchief so as to dry his mouth and chin. “I, uh, haven’t thought about marriage yet, Mother. Forgive me, I need a bit more time.”

Eleonore’s words by the gates brought these memories back to Silas, his eyes woefully looking at his sister as she smiled at her mother.

“Worry not, Mother. I shall wear my hair up on the ball, so you can be certain that they all will know that I am available for marriage.” The young woman squeezed her mother’s hands before kissing them with respect. “Now we have to go. Goodbye, Mother; Father. Thank you for everything.”

Silas bowed, blinking to take himself away from the trance of last night’s memories and bowed. “Goodbye, Father; Mother. See you when I come back.”

“Safe travels, children.” The parents replied at the same time, watching as both young nobles turned around to get inside the royal carriage.

The coachman treated them with the utmost respect, like they were his masters. It’s made the trip less awkward since they felt welcomed by at least one person from the castle – even if it was one of such low echelon.

The first four days passed without much trouble (Kamui’s itch was scheduled to happen sometime next week, so she was at least in peace regarding that) and, on the day of the ball, both nobles had to stop at a high-class inn so as to use the help of its servants to put them inside their party garments.

At Strömborg, the western castle, the ball started as soon as dusk fell, though that was a manner of speaking since the capital has always been darker than the rest of the kingdom. While Kamui and Silas were getting ready at the inn, half of the invitees occupied the large, almost gargantuan, ballroom.

It was of a grandiosity without equal: the dark marble floor contrasted with the yellow and purple lighting, magically extended with the Second Prince’s own signature on the formulae. The main entrance led directly to the room, through a long, red-carpeted corridor. Since the castle had been built inside the stone, it had many lower levels, and the ballroom was one of them: as soon as someone entered, they would be greeted by two flights of U-shaped stairs that would meet again in the middle at an intermediate landing before going further down at a bullnose as the last step, its railing a beautifully carved volute.

And, for as far as the eye could see, the extravagant decorations shone at each step as the band played a soft and peppy tune.

The ball was in commemoration of the vernal equinox and festivities held in honor of the gods of harvest were being held throughout the kingdom – since nohrian soil lacked many nutrients and its sky was rarely blessed with much sunlight, the people relied heavily on what they could plant in these conditions. Trading with neighboring countries was also an essential part of Nohr’s economy, and keeping a good relationship with them through the news of the bounty festivals were crucial for the dark kingdom’s survival.

At the party, hosted at the castle where the Royal Family made its residence, two of its members marking their presence in it: the Crown Prince Lord Xander and the First Princess Lady Camilla. Second Prince Leo and Youngest Princess Elise still weren’t of age to attend to formal events in court and were kept in the royal wing for the duration of the ball.

King Garon had excused himself from the commemorations entirely due to focusing himself on the war at the military’s central command located at the main Castle, Krakenburg.

Xander and Camilla shared a dance, using the opportunity to be on their own for as long as the song lasted to talk, virtually the only way they could do so without either being bothered or spied.

The prince had his hair slicked back, the crown given by his father nowhere to be seen to hide his perpetual frown. He wore a black, double-breasted frock coat with a red velvet cravat, almost as though he had agreed with Camilla to match the color of her dress: a vibrant burgundy and black taffeta long gown with an open back and a scandalous cleavage. Their gloved hands – his white and hers, black – worked in harmony with the beat of the song as their eyes ever so watchfully scanned the ballroom.

“According to schedule, they must have arrived already, Xander.” Camilla turned her head to accompany the beat after a backward walk followed by a quick turn.

“Indeed. If everything goes well, they should reach the palace at any moment.” He concurred, leading his sister to a left turning box with inside turn, catching her hand again as their eyes met.

“Will you really entrust the boy’s judgment to me? I am flattered with the honor, but there is still time to rethink.”

Xander’s lips curved up to something akin to a smile. “I am certain, my sister. After me, only you know of our circumstances well enough to rate a retainer’s worth. Whatever you decide after this ball is over, shall be done.”

Camilla laughed, her fluffy hair fluttering behind her as they did a series of turns. “Then I will not have mercy in my decision.” She huffed after they stopped spinning and Xander pressed her back to lead her to a slower set of steps. “Everything is in accordance with the band, mind. As soon as we both choose our next partners, they shall start the melody you requested.”

“Good,” he praised, something at the top of the stairs catching his attention. “And the song must play for as long as our talk lasts. Alas, Camilla,” he pointed his chin up, turning with the rhythm so his sister could look at the newly arrived duo, “they have come.”

“Dame Kamui and Sir Silas from the Lantanoir Household have arrived!” The Court Marshal and Master of Ceremonies Lord Abbington announced both young nobles’ arrival to the ballroom. It remained mostly unaffected, since the last half of the guests were still coming. Kamui tried not to stare, but ever since she’s been shown in, everything has been overwhelming: There were all kinds of people, from every color, race and even species (she could’ve sworn she saw a wolfskin somewhere, but it could have been a kind of laguz as well; she only noticed a foreign tail).

Not to mention the pressure of simply being there, surrounded by so many new people with her hair up in a bun with only a thick lock of hair twirling down to her shoulder. She was glad that at least her dress didn’t fall short to the palace: A navy blue, sleeveless jacquard brocaded corset with boning imbued with a poly lace up bodice and a long, black tiered ruffle skirt at the back, the front sewn with sparse silver brocades; long, dark gloves covered her arms.

Silas wore a dark grey tailcoat, his hair obediently slicked to the side for once. They parted ways as each one took one flight of the U-shaped stairs so as to meet again at the intermediate landing, immediately locking arms and taking deep breaths before slowly descending the last staircase.

The song continued, however some couples stopped dancing to watch as the Royal siblings themselves came to greet the Lantanoir nobles; Xander to Kamui and Camilla to Silas.

“It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Dame Kamui,” Xander gave her a slight bow as she curtsied, “I thank you for accepting the invitation. I am Xander, the Crown Prince of Nohr. And this is Camilla, the Eldest Princess.”

The first time their eyes met, Kamui felt something bristle at the nape of her neck. Xander allowed himself a small smile as he paid attention to the young woman’s feline eyes. Kitten, he thought with warmth, making Kamui’s heart skip a beat. The pressure of royalty could be seen on every fiber of his body, contrary to his smiling sister. His burgundy eyes carried a conviction as deep as, if not deeper than hers, and she could already discern from that first glance that his extended hand, disguised as a request for a dance, meant business.

Her heart pounded in her chest – the first test had started. She managed to smile shyly and curtsied once more. “I am most flattered to be greeted by Your Highness himself.” She replied, glancing from one royal to the other, nodding at the tall princess. “It is an honor to be able to enjoy a tradition as important as this one in Your Highnesses presences.” Entranced by his seriousness, the knight slid her hand over his, silently accepting the implied invitation for the dance.

As soon as their hands touched, the song changed. It was the complete opposite of the one that was being played previously – it was intense and fast-paced. Its name was War and Peace.

“We have much to discuss, my lady,” Xander said, bidding farewell to Silas and Camilla with a nod before escorting Kamui to the middle of the ballroom; every couple they passed by opening way for them. Soon they were isolated in the middle, with room to spare to dance – and to talk. The song was not only passionate, but also loud.

Kamui held her dress with her left hand, the same Xander held, and, when they arrived at the desired spot, she slid her right one to his shoulder, feeling his right hand press her shoulder blade. Immediately they started moving to accompany the rhythm, getting used to each other before trying any difficult movements.

The prince’s hand on her back guided her with a precision she had never felt before; not with her father, not with her instructor and certainly not with her brother. No; Xander had a strong grip followed by a smooth movement, making her role as his dance partner the easiest in the world – his leading was clear and straightforward -- soon they were doing complicated spins and leg works.

After the first left turning box with outside turn, as they raised their free arms up for the split of second – Kamui saw how intently he was looking at her. “Now that we are alone,” his voice rumbled through her chest when they went back to each other’s arms, “we can speak freely. You must know why I summoned you here, my lady.”

A stubborn lock of hair left the prince’s hairdo, dangling beside his right eye – but it only made Kamui less intent on taking her eyes off of him. “Indeed I do, my Lord. My Master uncovered Your Highness’ intention with the letter.”

“Ah, yes, Sir Gallahard the Watchful.” Xander mused, quickly turning his head around to show Kamui the next side they were going to spin to. “Then I can come to the conclusion that, by accepting this invitation, you also have your sights on assuming the position of my retainer?”

So Master was right after all, Kamui thought, pressing her lips into a thin line. The first test! “If my Lord thinks me worthy, then I shall abide to it.”

“I have witnessed your prowess in battle, against that young man you call brother,” he glanced to his sister’s direction – she was also speaking with Silas during a dance – and then turned back to Kamui, “which have left me no doubts about your physical abilities.”

Kamui licked her lips, the tension making her throat dry, “however?”

Xander’s frown lightened in a not-quite smile, in a less serious face. He liked that she was quick to catch up. “That is all I know about you.”

Ah, of course, Kamui thought, he wouldn’t call just anyone to be his retainer without digging up the past. But it seems he hasn’t found anything regarding Hoshido. “It is all that I am, my Lord,” she started, huffing after a series of twirls, “as Your Highness must know, I am an orphan from the Battle of Cheve. I was lucky enough to have Mo—that is to say, Lady Lantanoir to take pity of me and take me in after those dreadful days.”

“Indeed?” He contemplated, pulling up her body as they started a series of progressive outside steps, without missing a beat. “And why did you choose the way of the knight after receiving the chance of staying forever as a noblewoman?”

Is he perhaps concerned about me not looking like a chevois – or normal human, for that matter – and is testing me? She fixed her gaze on his, the memories of her painful past and her friend’s sacrifice ever present in the back of her mind. “I wish nothing more than to end the war, my Lord, so no other children have to go through what I did – the medics speculated that I have blocked the memories from before the Battle of Cheve because I most likely witnessed my parent’s deaths.”

Xander’s frown flickered with concern. “Forgive me. I should not have pressed the issue that further; it was thoughtless of me to remind you of such terrible memories.”

Kamui closed her eyes, dismissing his apology. “Worry not, Your Highness. It is your duty to ascertain yourself about the people you will be working with in the future.” She replied, being led to a back to back sequence, her eyes never focused on the crowd for they were always led back to the prince. After they were back on the original position, she pursed her lips. “However, before we enter in an agreement, I assume you will want to talk about my outward appearance.”

The prince spared a glance at the knight’s pointy ears and his lips curved down in a shrug. “From what I have gathered, you have never made a public transformation nor do you have any other physical differences apart from your ears. I see little point in pressing the matter further as long as you can assure me you have control over your inner beast.”

“You seem used to dealing with shape-shifters,” she blurted out, surprised. Then, quickly added his title. “Ah, my Lord.”

The Prince gave a half-smile for her blunder, “you must have noticed when you were shown in, my lady, that we do not discriminate anyone in the castle. As long as they fulfill their role, the species or skin color of the person matters not. The same can be said about you.”

Acceptance in the least place she thought she would find. Warmth and conflict inside her heart – suddenly she noticed how calm she was, as though the Prince was shouldering her worries. “Alas, Your Highness. I have never shifted before, despite being always in possession of a beaststone.” She meekly looked up at him, finding understanding in his eyes. “I feel the need to be honest with my Lord due to the role you have offered me: I can indeed control the beast inside of me, though I know not what it is for it has not surfaced yet.”

“A late bloomer; not a rare case.” He turned his head to the right, guiding her to a fast set of box steps. “We will have time to work on this once you start.”

Kamui’s stomach turned. “Have I passed the test, my Lord?”

“I have ascertained that you are not an enemy of Nohr; have good reflexes and has no issues with being led on. You are also sincere and your eyes truly are focused on the end of the war. Tell me, Kamui, have you brought your weapon?”

The unexpected turn of his speech made Kamui open and close her mouth before replying, “I have, my Lord. It is stationed at the guest room they have prepared for myself alongside my luggage.” She glanced down to her leg, “if it is a question of whether I am armed at the moment or not, well…”

The prince chuckled, his body trembling with mirth. She had brought a hidden knife to a royal ball! The audacity! “Splendid.” He turned with vigor, making her hold her breath and almost miss the step, “you have everything I look for in someone to serve under my immediate command. Do you accept to be my retainer, Dame Kamui? I am in need of your services.”

Kamui squeezed her hand on his, nodding in acceptance. “I do, my Lord, if you will have me.”

Xander glanced to something or someone over Kamui’s head before continuing with the twirls he had started. The song started its last section. “Wonderful. You have no qualms in starting tomorrow, then? I have received your written pledge and, as far as the army is concerned, you are already part of it.”

Kaze, forgive me, Kamui pressed her lips as they started their last step: a combination of open twinkles.

The song ended; Prince and knight in the middle of the ballroom with their hands connected and their opposing arms extended to the air. Huffing, Kamui took a step towards him as he gave his arm to escort her to a table. “I have no objections, my Lord. I look forward to working with you from now on.”

#corriander #xander #fire emblem fates #silas #kamui #wyll #where your loyalty lies #my writings #*hallelujah playing in the background*

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goldenkamuyhunting · 6 years ago

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Hi i love your metas. I am now get worried that Tsurumi is a sociopath but he, Ogata are spies so hard to understand. I always think Ogata has BPD bcoz he is like this person and normal for a man. But author sometime writes him only for making plot twists. Sorry for bad english.

Thank you, I’m really glad you love my meta!

Don’t worry about your English as I’ve said many times English is not my mothertongue either.

Now, in regard to your ask and personality disorders let’s put some order in this as I’ve noticed there’s quite a lot of interest for this topic.

First of all rarely characters from works of fiction have accurate personality disorders. The best they can have is the trope version of that personality disorder, unless they’re stories dealing either with real life people or written by someone competent or that researched a lot into the topic as writing realistically someone with a personality disorder isn’t easy at all.

Also, more often than not they go for the extreme version of the personality disorder as the tame version wouldn’t be worth the effort.

That’s why instead than using my studies in psychology I fish up the trope descriptions for personality disorders and use them. It’s not just simpler but also more fitting considering the subjects at hands.

It’s also worth to note way too many authors aren’t trying to represent a personality disorder... with the result it becomes impossible to fit a character in that personality disorder because any resemblance is coincidental and the character simply isn’t meant to have it.

Long story short, I don’t think Noda had a particular disorder in mind for Ogata otherwise he would give him much more obvious syntoms.

Noda, instead than giving disorders to his characters, seems more focused in giving them traumatic experiences and maladaptative copying mechanisms giving them ambiguous disorders without really having to dig too much into them so as to make them accurate.

The only disorder Noda seems to refer at, albeit vaguely, in his manga, is the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as most of the cast is composed by war veterans who might be esperiencing it one way or another (well, actually in real life not everyone experience it but in fiction it either doesn’t exist or everyone experiences various deegress of it and becomes a Shell-Shocked Veteran).

The good part of having so many cast members who are probably experiencing this is that in order to keep characterizations different, each of them experiences it differently, giving the whole thing a tinge of realism instead than a flat aderence to a trope.

Of course this too can be Noda merely referring to a trauma and to the maladaptative copying mechanisms derived by it, without Noda really planning to dig too deep into the disorder’s condition.

Sugimoto, after all, isn’t really qualified to give a diagnosis for himself and the others and it’s worth to note part of the people he’s thinking at had pre-existing traumas.

Long story short, even if post-traumatic stress disorder seems a safe bet, we can’t really be sure about it.

Anyway, let’s give a look at the two disorders you mentioned.

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD or APD) and Borderline personality disorder (BPD) don’t quite have a referencing trope as far as I know.

It can be because to people who aren’t really into personality disorders antisocial personality disorder closely resembles sociopathy and psychopathy and borderline personality disorder resembles post-traumatic stress disorder so media didn’t feel like digging into the distinctions.

Or maybe they just aren’t mainstream enough.

This of course lowers the chances Noda thought at them as well.

Anyway, Antisocial personality disorder.

I’ll just pick the main defining traits from tv trope again because they feel what an author would use more than the defining traits from a psychology book... even though since I’ve already said Ogata didn’t fit the sociopath trope, this might feel redundant.

Antisocials will simply take what they need or want, and don't think of anybody as a friend; everybody is a tool.

While Ogata has no friends, not everybody is a tool to him as, as I mentioned discussing the sociopath and the narcissist tropes, he went out of his way to spare Huci, help Nikaido, spare Shinpei and even comforted Koito.

They have a reputation for rationalizing acts most would consider dog kicking, in the process shaming their accuser for standing up for themselves. Contrition and remorse are tools for getting what they want and nothing more; if they think or know that they can win their way back into someone's good graces by appearing to want to atone for their actions, they will, only to revert to their old ways the minute that they have succeeded.

Ogata never tries to atone for his own actions... but I’ve already discussed how he clearly feels guilty for Yuusaku’s death.

They are also notoriously prone to violent and aggressive behavior and will frequently seek revenge after a setback, and their general inability to experience guilt or appreciate consequences means that they are unlikely to view punishment as anything other than an undeserved injustice, something to bullshit their way out of, or as a score to settle.

Ogata, being the trope of the cold sniper isn’t really prone to violent and aggressive behaviour. Sure, he used scissors against Ejiri Matasuke, but that’s probably the only time Ogata did used physical violence against someone without being in need of it (kicking Koito to render him unconscious is tactical, not gratuitous violence).

He didn’t kick Asirpa when she tried to reach for the arrows nor beat Koito after he was immobilized to take revenge for Koito hitting his nose with his head.

In a time period in which people are actually very violent (look at the Nikaido brothers beating Sugimoto up or at Sugimoto threatening Shiraishi or even at him and Kiro beating the guys who were trying to rob them), Ogata is comparatively very calm and cold.

More traditional methods of teaching empathy are generally held to be useless with antisocials, as they typically just learn how to be better manipulators.

Again, I’ve talked already about how Ogata fails as a manipulator.

(They) have no qualms of violating established rules or disproving widely held theories.

This can be perceived as fitting... but it actually fit all the cast. No one is really following the law in the gold hunt, it’s a pre-requisite to take part to the gold hunt itself and again just a trait wouldn’t be enough to.

Long story short, no I don’t think Noda had this in mind when he created Ogata.

Borderline personality disorder now.

I’ll skip all the elements it has in common with post-traumatic stress disorder... as this can be a disorder in Golden Kamuy.

So... defining traits that differentiate it from post-traumatic stress disorder are: frantic fear of abandonment, unstable and intense relationships, impulsiveness and inconsistent image of self.

None of this really fits Ogata.

He is an abandoned child, true, but while he likely would have preferred for Asirpa not to leave him, he didn’t show a ‘frantic fear of being abandoned’ by her.

His relationships aren’t intense or they wouldn’t fit with the trope of cold sniper.

Ogata isn’t consistently impulsive, he’s a risk taker, true, but he usually plans things first when possible and hardly acts on impulse.

Regarding Ogata’s image of self he knows very well how good he is as a sniper... but also how little worth he had in his father’s eyes.

Long story short I don’t think Ogata was meant to have this one disorder either.

Again it’s just me.

If the Golden Kamuy characters were real life people to make a diagnosis about what they might suffer would be a lot more complicate than just checking a checklist. As they’re just characters, we should expect them to have just the defining traits to the disease, the ones that would eventually create a trope.

Still, if you want, you might consider reading @chibivesicle‘s post which actually considered the chance of Ogata having borderline personality disorder per the NIH as @chibivesicle diggest into this not from the trope side but from the psychological side.

Now... can Tsurumi be a sociopath?

Skipping I don’t think Noda had in mind specific diseases for his characters, Tsurumi is much more complicate than Ogata to analyze because we hardly have any introspection for him... and since he’s meant to fit the trope of chessmaster and manipulative bastard we hardly see him in contests in which he can be himself still... let’s try.

Mind you, this time I’m going to report only the main points and not the descriptions.

1) Lack of Empathy and Devoid of Conscience

As I said there are little to no introspection scenes with Tsurumi so we can’t really say if his actions are due to how he feels or due to the image he has to project outside to play out his role of chessmaster and manipulative bastard to judge.

However the fact he tries to send away Fina and Olga...

...and seemed to genuinely suffer for their dead

since he remained with Fina until she died, holding her hand and even told her his true name, showed affection for Olga...

...and even set them down to rest together before leaving...

... make me think in those moments he was showing empathy and coscience otherwise he would have had no reasons to waste his time with them once Kiro and Co were out of sign.

Also although it would have been easy for him to persuade his men to get rid of the lightnight bandit and O-gin, he spared him and even entrusted him to Huci alongw ith some money wrapped in his parents’ clothes so he would even have mementos of them.

2) Consummate Liar and Manipulator.

As said before Tsurumi fits the tropes of chessmaster and manipulative bastard so of course he’s a consummate liar and manipulator, the best in the whole Golden Kamuy were everyone lies and way too many have tried manipulating someone.

The problem comes from the fact this isn’t an enduring maladaptative behaviour which characterize a personality disorder but a set of skills he had to learn to be an effective spy and that now is using to reach his goal. As we’ve no info on Tsurumi PRIOR to him becoming a spy, we can’t know if he’s just someone with enduring maladaptative behaviours which he’s using to do his job or if those are merely acquired skills.

3) Pathological Need for Stimulation.

I wouldn’t say Tsurumi is doing all this for the thrill, even if there are moments in which he seems to relish on the thrill. We also have no info about him viewing his existence as boring or meaningless.

Tsurumi seems to have a clear goal in mind, and all this doesn’t seem just an excuse to have fun.

4) Shallow Affect and Complete Lack of Emotional Reciprocity.

Again he seemed to care for Fina and Olga but, due to the situation, it’s hard to say how much. He might care/might have cared for others, like Tsukishima, but again, his plans get in the way and with the lack of internal dialogue we can’t really tell, just speculate.

5) Grandiose Sense of Self-Worth.

I can’t remember Tsurumi babbling at how clever he is but since he wants to become the new Hokkaido dictator I guess he could have some.

To sum it up.

Info on Tsurumi are vague and, due to the tropes he represents and the lack of inner info or past info about him, we can’t really sort him well.

Tsurumi has very little evidence going again the idea he’s not a sociopath (never mentioning Noda even had fun compating him to hitler or a demon) and actually, considering other factors people could very well buy he’s one.

Is that the case?

Actually I still think we miss pieces of his past that we should know before judging him... and I’m not sure Noda aimed to represent personality disorders and, in this case, the resemblance with one is ‘coincidental’, the result of Tsurumi being an antagonist as well as Noda wanting to use the chessmaster and manipulative bastard tropes, and not to a genuine effort to portray a personality disorder... but again, maybe I only saw the tip of the iceberg.

Still, it's worth to note I think if he wanted us to buy he's a sociopath he would have given us absolutely 0 evidence he could not be one and instead he gave us 2 moments that seem to deny it and much more evidence he's one when there are actually some parts for which we've no evidence.

In short Tsurumi I understand how people can thinks Tsurumi can be a sociopath... but his resemblance to the Sociopath trope can very well be coincidental due to the other tropes he represents and due to us missing some info. It’s hard to say FOR SURE as for now we've nowhere near enough elements to judge... and some elements seem to go against this theory.

Noda seemed to favour being vague so I think we can only wait and see.

Thank you for your ask and sorry if something in my reply was unclear but I had a pretty terrible week and now I’m mostly worn out. Sorry again!

#Ogata Hyakunosuke #Tsurumi Tokushirou #Golden Kamuy #Ask

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goldenkamuyhunting · 6 years ago

Note

re your post abt killing the tiger, can I ask abt ‘As Tanigaki showed he’s not good at taking care of others and at taking his own responsibilities’? what instances particular are you referring to? Thanks so much! I don’t really remember having such an impression of tanigaki while reading the manga haha :��D (But I do agree w you abt him rushing to revenge being a risky thing)

Sure you can ask!

I don’t mind explaining my view of Tanigaki but, of course, I can’t claim to own the truth about him so it’s okay if you feel like not agreeing with me.

Now... although I often end up talking about Ogata and Asirpa, Tanigaki too is one of thecharacters I love. He’s actually one of the guys who got me into Golden Kamuy. And ofcourse, like all the characters I love, he makes me wish to bang my head againsta wall.

Now... first, to make sure, I think the post you’re talking about is this? Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

And now, back to Tanigaki, I’ll try to explain you my feelings regardinghim.

Mind you, I’m sure Tanigaki isn’t a jerk or a guy prone to slack off. He’sa complex man who’d like to mean well but... made many mistakes and hadn’trealized it... or has actively turned his eyes away from them.

I’ll go in chronological order instead than in a chapter order because Ithink it’ll be easy to follow his story.

Beware, what follows is a list of moments in which Tanigaki showed he’s not good at taking care of others and at taking his own responsibilities. Tanigaki isn’t just this of course, there are other moments in which Tanigaki is a great guy. This list however isn’t meant to list them.

It’s also a subjective list as it reflects my impression on his actions so don’t take it as words from Noda sensei.

And now let’s start.

In chap 75 we learn of the drama that signed Tanigaki’s life and set him onhis current path.

His sister’s house had been burned to the ground and, inside it, he foundhis sister’s burned body, stabbed by Kenkichi’s knife, while Kenkichi isnowhere to be found.

His first assumption in the middle of his emotional storm is that Kenkichi has murdered her and so he goes in mad rage to the home of Kenkichi’s parents and threatens them.

Now I understand in that moment he was in an emotional storm and wasn’t thinking straight but times go by as he searches for Kenkichi (and then hears a rumor saying he has joined the 7th division).

At this Tanigaki immediately decides to go join the 7th division so as to get revenge on Kenkichi. His family is against it and he leaves them with rude words as his revenge on his dead sister is more important than his living family members to him.

And this is already a pretty bad thing to do.

We see his mother is crying, the rest of his family is probably grief striken. I get he’s angry because his sister was murdered but did he have to hurt everyone else because he was hurting?

He could have left them in a gentler manner if he really felt he had to because it would drive him insane not to go... but really, truth is he shouldn’t have left at all and remained to take care of HIS LIVING FAMILY, instead than trying to avenge HIS DEATH SISTER that won’t have any benefit from it.

It’s not all though. Time has gone by. His anger should have calmed a bit. Kenkichi was someone he knew, someone he probably could call a friends as the two were close enough to go on a first name basis without honorifics and only a year apart. They had likely grown up together.

Why is he so sure Kenkichi could have done something like that?

I understand circumstances were against Kenkichi but was Kenkichi such a terrible person it was obvious to assume he would murder his sister in cold blood, burn the house and escape with no good reason at all? Shouldn’t he had thought ‘I’ll give him the benefit of doubt and ask him what had happened first and afterward, if he turns out guilty, I’ll kill him?’

No, he didn’t.

Murdering Kenkichi is Tanigaki’s way to cope with the pain of his loss.

He’ll always blame Kenkichi for his pain even when he’s told he also played a part in his mother’s death.

What’s worse is the way he wants to kill him.

It’s a clever way, of course, as Tsurumi likely had Ogata kill whoever was on his way with the same method... but whose murders are tactical in nature. Ogata is fundamentally Tsurumi’s hit-man. No, it’s nowhere near a good thing, actually it’s pretty terrible but that’s how things work. They’re clearly not good guys to do such terrible things, but well, I don’t expect them to be, considering their aim. It’s job, nothing personal, and Tsurumi is likely careful to make sure the killing will happen in such a way it won’t cause damage to the army and therefore to himself. Tsurumi doesn’t want to lose this war or to get killed.

Tanigaki was supposed to be a good guy... nothing like a bad one... yet his murder is personal, but he doesn’t have the guts to face Kenkichi first and make sure he’s really guilty, he’s trying to find a way out from being punished for his murder and, although Tanigaki is presented like a guy who believes in comrades, war buddies and stuff, he wants to murder one of his comrades (on the battleground Kenkichi is one of his comrades) in the heat of the battle without caring for the damage this can cause to his faction.

If he had shoot Kenkichi sooner, Kenkichi wouldn’t have managed to save them by stopping the guy with the bombs strapped on himself.

This is not anymore a murder in the heat of rage and desperation, it’s a planned murder in cold blood, whom he wants to carry on without caring about the damage he can inflict to others and of the possibility Kenkichi might be innocent.

Tanigaki is so taken by his narrative in which Kenkichi is the culprit and the person to blame for everything he doesn’t want to see any other possibility.

But still... Tanigaki isn’t a monster. Although he still plan to murder a dying man who had just saved his life... he hesitates.

Maybe ironically what stopped him are Ogata’s words as Ogata assumed he was there to help Kenkichi, reminding Tanigaki at the core he is a good person, not a murderer, maybe not but still Tanigaki hesitates and this gives him the chance to hear Kenkichi call his sister’s name.

This pushes him to do what he should have planned to do at the beginning, ASK FOR EXPLANATIONS before judging Kenkichi. Fate will help him in get what he’s asking and from Kenkichi’s explanation it’ll turn out he wasn’t the monster Tanigaki believed him to be, that he deeply loved Tanigaki’s sister and that he did what he did because it was the only way he had to help her. While this brings peace to Tanigaki in regard to his sister’s death... actually he doesn’t know how to build upon it.

Kenkichi’s confession proved his path to revenge was the dumbest thing Tanigaki could make. He caused further pain to his mother, who died, he attempted to murder a man who actually was innocent, he ended up involved in a bloody war that mentally scarred him and all... for nothing.

Tanigaki is ashamed of himself... which does him honour as he realizes he’s the one to blame but, instead than acting like an adult, go back to his home and apologize, he prefers to hide in Hokkaido.

What if his father is suffering like his mother for the loss of his sister and for how Tanigaki left? What if he merely managed to hold a little longer than his mother but the grief will eventually kill him too?

Tanigaki is ashamed... so he hides, he doesn’t apologize, he doesn’t want to go to his father and say ‘I’m sorry, I was wrong and you were right’. He doesn’t deliver Kenkichi’s words to his relatives but let them live in the uncertain and grief.

While I understand him... well, he’s not taking care of his family or facing his responsibilities.

It gets worse.

Tanigaki decides to remain with the 7th, is involved in Tamai’s little expedition, wounded by Retar and left there.

Now, Tanigaki is a soldier with obligations toward the 7th and toward the comrades who were with him and that were using him as guide.

What’s his reaction?

He wants to hunt Retar.

He doesn’t go to report to Tsurumi. He won’t search for his comrades. He wants to hunt Retar. Tsurumi and his men were searching for him Tamai and the others, a sign he wasn’t allowed to disappear for so long.

This is of no concern to Tanigaki. He wants Retar.

Of course this is his subconscious trying to tell him something, to go back home and return being a Matagi but the point is a mature person would have still kept in mind his obligations to his comrades and the Army.

Tanigaki instead goes on his personal quest to find Retar and joins forces with Nihei.

I love the relationship with the two with Tanigaki in the beginning looking down on Nihei due to him using a Murata rifle,

without knowing anything about Nihei’s phylosophy...

way to hunt...

or life (Nihei also uses that rifle because it belonged to his deceased son).

Again, like he did with Kenkichi, he judged someone without knowing all the facts and was proved wrong.

Nihei, who doesn’t even know half of Tanigaki’s problems, tries to help him by understanding what Tanigaki truly need, to go back home. He understands Tanigaki is making excuses because he doesn’t have the guts to go home but wants to. Nihei wants to give Tanigaki a way to overcome his shame by giving him Retar’s pelt once they’ll have killed him.

I think Nihei wanted to help Tanigaki because he saw in him the son he lost and who couldn’t come back home. I love how they bond and how Nihei tries to be a father for Tanigaki, teaching him but also listening to what Tanigaki knows and accepting his suggestions. Nihei really wants to help Tanigaki go back home.

Although Tanigaki needed medical aid ironically Nihei understood what Tanigaki needed the most was going back home. That if he weren’t given an excuse to go back home he wouldn’t be capable to do it on his own.

On the reverse side, although Asirpa and her grandmother will give Tanigaki medical aid they won’t encourage him to go back home but they’ll let him keep on hiding from his family in their village (no, I’m not blaming them, they don’t know Tanigaki’s situation).

Now, I get Tanigaki didn’t want to warn Tsurumi about being there in fear this would betray the fact Sugimoto too hung around that village but his actions were still irresponsible. He should have found a way to tell the army where he was as they were searching for him. He wasn’t really allowed to decide he could remain among the Ainu to help them.

The Ainu could also end up in troubles as Tanigaki could end up being judged a deserter and in many countries who helps a deserter to hide is punished as well. The truth is Tanigaki doesn’t want to go back to the Army and while I fully understand his wish, this is again irresponsible and wrong toward the guys he called comrades.

Then Ogata drops by and we see it’s only due to him Tanigaki spared a moment to worry about Tamai ando Co. His surprise makes clear he hadn’t asked about them to Sugimoto so he doesn’t know how they had ended.

Tanigaki is however fast to judge them. If they aren’t with Tsurumi they’re nothing to him even if Tamai and Co hadn’t attacked him, Ogata is attacking him under the belief he killed them and Tanigaki knows nothing of their reasons...

Too bad he’ll later tell Ogata he ‘has cut ties with the 7th’.

If Tamai and Co were despicable for having cut ties with the 7th why he doesn’t feel bad for doing the same?

And he has cut ties with the 7th already even if he’s not really admitting it to himself, because he takes advantage of how everyone is distracted by Ogata to sneak back to the Ainu...

...and later will move disguising himself.

The Ainu points out to how, by now, since Tanigaki is making obvious how he doesn’t want to go back to the 7th he should return home...

Note how Tanigaki doesn’t say ‘yes’ nor seems happy at the idea.

Then Inkarmat came along and she worried Huci and he decided to go search Asirpa. Now... I don’t want to think he did so to escape going back because, really, Tanigaki seems genuinely worried for Huci but... we’ll discuss it later.

For now let’s focus on Tanigaki’s travel and how Cikapasi will join him.

Tanigaki’s idea of dealing with the problem was... doing nothing and hoping it would go away by itself (as in that Cikapasi would go home by himself). When it turns out that’s not the case he finally faces him. Cikapasi asks to say, Inkarmat agrees and Tanigaki... plays along, I guess. I can’t find him warning the Ainu about Cikapasi being with them but since he wrote to them I’ll take he did it. The point is when Inkarmat is in danger is Cikapasi who hurges Tanigaki to save her. They were travelling together, she’s now a woman in danger and Tanigaki needs a kid to tell him to help her?

And so we reach the Anehata arc. Tanigaki has said he travelled all that way to bring Asirpa back to Huci.

However when Asirpa rejects the idea thinking it’ll make her look as if she were a child, Tanigaki says nothing.

Asirpa wouldn’t have acted as a child if she were to go back. Tanigaki knows first hand the treath on Huci’s health is genuine. His mother died for the same reason and he set himself on that travel to avoid this happening to Huci. Yet he does nothing to make Asirpa change her mind. He doesn’t tell her about how he lost his mother, he doesn’t tell her going back wouldn’t have been the act of a child but of a caring grandaughter.

It would have been fine if he were to try and failed, but he doesn’t. True, he’ll remain with Asirpa to support her in her travel but he doesn’t really set her straight on the risk Huci was running. This makes me fear he’s using the whole thing as an excuse not to go back home.

It’s clear he doesn’t know well how to handle his relationship with Inkarmat. I’ve talked other times with it and I’m also willing to give him a pass as he’s apparently not experiences with women so, probably, he doesn’t really know how to act with her but, although he tries to protect her from Ogata, he’s of no real support to her.

Inkarmat is a troubled woman with a sad past behind herself, plagued by Wilk’s memory which is, apparently, the happiest memory of her life.

When Tanigaki confronts her about the whole rice thing his reaction seems the one of a jealous man, more than of a supportive man. When Inkarmat explains him her reasons, he accepts them but he’s still not really supportive, more like ‘I’ll let up to you close this chapter of your life and once you’re done with what you’ve to do and I’ve done with what I’ve to do we can be together’.

This is not terrible per se as he were letting her have freedom and trust... but it’s not offering support along the way even though Inkarmat just told him about her sad past and she might have needed support to face it. But okay, as I said I’ll give him a pass as the whole thing with Inkarmat is mostly ‘unknown ground’ for Tanigaki... even if this might be part of why Inkarmat will feel it’s all right not to warm him about how she was passing info on Tsurumi.

Fast forward to post Abashiri, Tanigaki decides to leave Inkarmat in Tsurumi’s hand to ‘save Asirpa’ or so he says but fundamentally he carries along Kiro’s knife to ‘return it’ by stabbing him as he stabbed Inkarmat. He doesn’t make sure Cikapasi will remain home (even though he was the adult in charge of Cikapasi) so Cikapasi ends up tagging along and since they’re hunting two dangerous men the travel might be dangerous this time.

And so we reach the point in which he stabs Kiro.

Differently from Kenkichi this time it was self defence, so I don’t blame him for stabbing Kiro... I blame him for wanting that so much he left behind Tsukishima and, when Koito went back he didn’t follow him. Tanigaki was their guide. He should have made sure Tsukishima was following and shouldn’t have left Koito alone. The same way I scold Koito for leaving Tanigaki alone, I also scold Tanigaki for leaving Koito alone. Tanigaki is probably older and surely more experienced and they had been just attacked. He shouldn’t have left him alone.

So that’s my list of moments in which Tanigaki failed either at taking care of others or of taking care of his own responsibilities or both.

Mind you, as said before Tanigaki didn’t do it out of ill will or lazyness. He often meant well or did so by mistakes or because misguided by his own feelings. Tanigaki genuinely wants to do the right thing, to be a good person. He cares for many people and would like to help them. But still, he failed here and there and, in some cases, other people paid for his failure.

I was really, really hoping his travel to Karafuto would end up showing he had grown and can be supportive and help the people he cared about because I know Tanigaki is a good guy and can do it... and I’m really sad to see among his goals for the Karafuto trip there was ‘return that knife’.

I wanted him to be the one who’ll support Sugimoto, who’ll tell him revenge will bring no good and instead Tanigaki had a wish of revenge in his heart as well.

Tanigaki has changed from the start of the story, changed in many ways but sadly not in this one. This is a true pity and I’m really sad for him because Noda seemed to have set up things in such a way we can expect Tanigaki to have to pay the price for his own wrong choice.

And I can’t help but be worried for him.

Now of course you might feel differently from me, as said before I’m not Noda and I don’t own the truth on these characters but still I hope my reply at least helped to clear up my past words. Thank you for your ask!

#Golden Kamuy #Tanigaki Genjirou #Ask

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