Noragami: Chapter 68

So, I've decided to do a section in which I discuss the latest chapter and such because I need to voice my opinion. This is late and I know I'm starting on the wrong chapter but here goes. After a long, long time (well it was long for me), the latest chapter was scanlated! Yay! I was dying for this. Anyway, I'll just applaud the art for this chapter. Recently the art has been really eye catching, urgh and for the most nerve wracking arc of all things. This chapter was funny, heart touching, chilling, awesome, but also really sad. Which trust me, is a really good thing, it keeps the readers hooked. Going on-

I absolutely adore it when the supposed bad guy just turns out to be an adorable idiot. Yeah, I didn't like Takemikazuchi at all at first. First of all I thought he was in cahoots with Fujisaki and on top of that he killed Ebisu. Yeah, I excused him for the Fujisaki thing early on because Nora seems to be using a lot of kamis. But the fact that he killed Ebisu. Holy cow, I wasn't going to forgive him for that, no siree. But this guy honestly thought it was justice. So, oh well, I can't do much. What I loved about this scene is Yato and Takemikazuchi fighting each other like idiots (it kind of reminded me of Naruto and Sasuke's last battle when they completely ran out of energy, way to be stupid you guys), they're really alike if you look at it. Why the heck are they fighting with bamboo? Oh right, cause they don't have shinki supporting their fight anymore. I also noticed, Bamboo has a lot of symbolism in Japan, so there might be an internal joke, but I cannot spot it, meh...The reason why I find this scene so important is the fact that no matter how hard the two of them fight, they can only exhaust each other, while Yukine and Kiun are seriously discussing serious matters at hand. It also symbolizes that kami are nothing and cannot function without their guidepost (reminding us of when Yato said he was 'butt-naked without a shinki' after Tomone quit). Of course they're plenty strong and whatnot, but their guidepost are essential, which is hauntingly echoed in the very last page, we'll get there.

Also can I just spazz, because we have new good looking males added to my list? Kiun smiled, like honestly smiled! Oh my kami! Also Takemikazuchi looks very, very good with his hair down. May I say cute? My new personal dose of long hair and ponytails. Although, Takemikazuchi can do without the ponytail, I don't know how he does it, but he looks atrocious with the ponytail. Another flag here. Takemikazuchi and Kiun  will have very important roles to play from here on. Anime and Manga rule states that once a character starts looking really good in the good kind of way, he's going to be around the protagonist for a very long time. It means he's coming to the good side (not that Noragami has a good side...erm...Yato's side??).

I'm extremely worried about these two. Kazuma has stung Bishamon and Bishamon obviously knows and feels that, and I think she even knows which one of her shinki stung her. I don't understand how and why Kazuma stung her when he's only thinking of her well being. I'll have to go back and check the scene in which Hiyori notices. Kazuma has never stung her and I think that's very important. The fact that he stung her may drive him to believe she is too good for him and he may back out from being not only Bishamon's guidepost but also her shinki. He's already very insecure about Bishamon using Nana instead of him, this might be what snaps Kazuma. I don't really like the direction in which this is going. As I said earlier, the guidepost is essential to the kami.

Alright, let us all just sit back and give Nana a slow clap. I am astounded at how amazing this girl is. She not only over came her name, but she even hurt Nora. This is just...wow. Nana is a really refreshing character with utter devotion to her former master (makes sense cause she was a Hafuri, you know). But in order to get back at the heavens for killing her former master, she submits herself to Bishamon. Meaning, she isn't really interested if Bishamon gets hurt or not. I think it's the fact that she's completely indifferent that she isn't stinging Bishamon while she's grinning about killing the heaven's armies. But this also leads us to the question: "Doesn't this mean Kazuma and Yukine can do this too?". Probably yes if the situation arose. Kazuma could probably do it and Yukine if it was guaranteed that it wouldn't hurt Yato (oh my gosh...that panel in the last chapter when Yukine was like "I won't let you take Yato from me" **sobs**). I think this page is important because it will determine what Fujisaki's attachments to Nora is. If she gets really hurt and he pulls back, he might really care for her which means he only despises kami. But if he doesn't he could probably care less about the entire world and only care about that freckled girl he's so obsessed with. Damn we need more of her. Without Nora, Fujisaki isn't powerless, but he's going to face a lot of problems fighting an enraged Bishamon. Um, may I also state that while I love Nana and she is friggin awesome, I think she's a very unhealthy shinki for Bishamon.

Now, we need to seriously talk about freaky shinkis. I thought Kiun was bad enough, seriously. I thought, oh hey, Shinkis are cool, they're pipes, jewelry, weapons, pens, commerce tools, pot lids (I have no idea how that works), and then Kiun showed up and I was like "You call that a shinki? That's insanity!" Now we got an entire horseman army. Yato, Yato, you've got a long way to go before you become Japan's number one kami. Because, seriously, one shinki, that's practically one person becomes a friggin army with fancy horses and armor? I used to think it was weird when Yukine was two blades, kay? Somebody please get rid of this shinki for me, please?

Freaked out, utterly freaked out. I was chilled by this utter sense of foreboding. Do you guys know what anime death flags are? If not, please check this out (http://goboiano.com/list/5091-12-death-flags-that-will-definitely-get-you-killed-in-anime). This scene was literally screaming death flag, of course, I could be wrong...but seriously. Little Kazuma doll torn at the neck (anyone remember where Kzuma's blight eye is?), tender flashback of Kazuma and Bishamon's inseparable relationship (she can't survive without him, you know). Kazuma's going to die. No! No! No! I just said that out loud! No kamisama no! Adachi Toka, please tell me I'm wrong! Please! Not Kazuma!

And then our last page. There are so many curse words I want to spout...no no, must keep this decent. Remember my first part was about how essential your guidepost is for you. Educated guideposts also feel the same way, so for Kazuma, this is the utter form of rejection even though he knows why Bishamon is rejecting him. But seriously, did you have to push him out of the sky? Who's gonna save him now? Don't say Yato because he has saved Kazuma one too many times. I think this will lead to a serious rift between Bishamon and Kazuma, and I don't think Nana's even bothered ("My heaven army is waiting for me to devour it, let us be on our way, Bishamon sama") Kuraha's face is like "What did you even do?" I really hope this isn't how Kazuma dies, that would really suck...But I want to know what was going on in Bishamon's head when she did that. Another death flag, the last line is 'You can never go home again'. Yato kamisama, save us all.

"Your wish has been heard loud and clear!"

Noragami: Things That The Rabo Arc Spoiled

We all know that the Rabo Arc in season one was not one of Noragami's best moments. Not only did the Arc not exist at all, but it also killed the pace the anime had been going at. A lot of viewers even said that this arc was downright boring. But more than that, I feel it spoiled a lot of things that showed up in the manga and seaspn two and there were even several nonsensical things in it too. Now this is something I have always been aware of, but this time when I was doing my usual binge rewatch Noragami with Koka Noodles, I realized that this issue has to be seriously addressed. So here goes nothing.

1) Hiyori's Memory Loss

Hiyori's memory loss was a very important part in the story that originally takes place during the Underworld arc. Nothing wrong with making the girl lose her memory twice, right? Actually, there is something very wrong about that. In the original story line, Hiyori lost her memory even though she firmly believed she wouldn't and that she was different. The only one's to know that she lost her menory were herself and Tenjin and group. What was important about this was Hiyori feeling the utter agony and regret for having forgotten people so precious to her, understanding what her life would be like without them and realizing their importance. Yato not finding out was also very important because it created the need in him to go back, the desperation to make Hiyori not forget him. That was the impact of her original memory loss. However because of the Rabo Arc, for only anime watching fans, the second time she lost her memory was not that much of a big deal and the impact lost it's effect. She just lost her memory again, right?

2) How Stupidly Unbelievable The Arc Was

Alright, I know it's a problem that a lot of people think anything is possible in anime. Yeah, anything is possible in Fairy Tail, we get that (I mean Gajeel was ressurected). But like Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and other good anime and manga, Noragami follows a set of rules. Delving deep into mythological Shinto, although it is supernatural immersed, Noragami is a strict no-nonsense story. Therefore stealing Hiyori's memories, bringing back a dead kami with a spell, him absorbing a friggin ayakashi cloud and Hiyori getting her memories back with Yato's smell is borderline riduculous. I can't stand for it!

3) The Use of The Mask Ruined

We all know the masks were used by Fujisaki, Nora and our darling Ebisu. However, because Rabo did miracles with his mask, such as absorbing ayakashi without touching them, not getting blighted by the storm of ayakashi and whatnot, Ebisu was expected to do similar miracles. However, the mask has to be stuck on an ayakashi to be controlled. The mask was used in a way that shouldn't have been possible. This also made certain people view Ebisu as inferior to Rabo. Non manga readers, that is.

4) Nora and Rabo Teaming Up

Nora and Yato have a very complicated relationship and as much as I know you guys have the propensity to despise her, she would never do anything to put Yato's lfe in danger because Yato's life is still very important to Fujisaki. Therefore her teaming up with Rabo is unthinkable.

5) Nora's Water Ability

We all know what it means when a drop of water falls. Nora is here. However, until the Underworld arc no one was supposed to know what that signified. Also, for every person she is a shinki of, Nora is known to only have a water form under Yato's name, Hiiro. The fact that Rabo weilded the same power made Yato lose the special spot light.

6) Brainwashing Yato into Remembering

We all know Rabo went "Remember, remember, remember. Let me friggin hypnotize you." However, this had a negative effect on Yato's assumed strength by the fans. It gave the impression Yato doesn't wish to recall his past and he is only strong as a Magatsukami. It wasn't a really smart idea. 

7) Rabo's Unoriginal Back Story

I personally felt Rabo's back story was an imiation of Tenjin's. Michizane is known as one the great three vengeful spirits and that's why he became a kami. A human banished and left alone to die, but his death caused disasters so people worshipped him to curb his anger and thus the kami of education came into being. Rabo's was a little too similar to Tenjin's. A messanger killed and then worshipped to curb his anger. However, I think this was really cutting it close. Manga readers who have been avidly following the story will find this back story incredulous. This kind of back story and every shinki might as well wind up becoming kamis.

8) Rabo Death Telepathy

When Rabo died he disentegrated into nothing. OK. Now, the important part is that all the Kami stop their work, look up into the sky and say, "One of us is no more." OK, and how did you know? Did you get a phone call? Is this how it is whenever a Kami dies? Wow, do you guys stand in awe whenever one of you get's reincarnated. The computer program kami down the street paid her respects to Ebisu when he died because she stopped in awe to look up at the heavens.

9) Yato as a Partner

It is hard to believe Yato would've had a partner once upon a time othe than Nora. Yato was Fujisaki's pawn and therefore only stayed with Nora, doing whatever Fujisaki asked of him. With a connection that troublesome it's not right that Yato had a partner Fujisaki did not know of or Rabo did not know of Fujisaki's existence. Given Fujisaki's hate for Kami, the mere idea of even coming close to Rabo must be sickening. So, find a partner approved by daddy first.

10) Nora as a Shinki

When Nora shows Yato the name Furuhime, Yato's eyes widened meaning that he recignized the name, meaning even way back then, Rabo had naned her.Who wouldn't? How many people can find a murderous shinki that won't sting them? However, at that time, Rabo couldn't have possibly naned her and used her because she was being used by Yato as his shinki. Yup dead end there. He don't have no shinki, not one strong enough to kill Kami that is.

Well that's all for now. I had much more on my mind but I couldn't recall while writing this post. If I remember anything, I'll edit and repost!

"May your wish be heard loud and clear!"

Noragami: That Freckled Girl!

Alright, so I noticed something when I was rereading the underworld arc and then chapter 60 raised my suspicions again. Fujisaki seemed to just be an evil human roaming around in different bodies who was being a creeper by running after Hiyori and he was terrible for tormenting Yato. But Adachi Toka's manga Noragami plays around with the meaning of good and evil. So, Fujisaki may just be a character trying to take revenge on someone. Why? That freckled girl. How many of you know what I'm talking about? The first time she was mentioned was in the Underworld arc when Izanami was telling Yato and Ebisu about the first brush.

Izanami mentions that someone took the brush before, Yato instantly thinks his dad. There's no proof for this though. Izanami continues to explain that the person who took the previous brush saw a freckled girl while looking at Izanami. Remembering that people see the person most important to them in Izanami, this could be Fujisaki's first weakness spotted. But we still can't prove that it was Yato's father.

And then Mizuchi (That is Nora, I stopped calling her Hiiro cause technically she isn't Hiiro any more) confirms our suspicions by saying that Father did come down to Yomi to take the first brush and that he only succeeded after someone call his name. Given what we know about father, who would call his name, a human on top of that (Hinting at the freckled girl on the sidelines)?  We also see the freckled girl that he saw on Izanami slightly.

Last but not least, in chapter 60, when Bishamon confronts Fujisaki, he calls her a 'mere god', I mean who calls a god a mere god? Well evidently Fujisaki. But if you noticed, he seems to hate all gods, even Yato, which we see from the abuse towards Yato revealed in the chapter. What could cause a human to hate a God? Then he seems to explain, but as we see him explain his hate we see him holding that freckled girl, she looked dead too, and crying and screaming. What is going on? Who is that freckled girl? What is her relationship with father? How can we use her against him? What happened? For some reason, it seems, the fate of Noragami lays in the hands of a dead character's identity. I feel if we discover who this freckled girl is, we'll be able to solve all the problems.

Noragami: Yato and Ebisu's Relationship

One of the relationships that I am particularly fond of in the manga is the relationship between Yato and Ebisu. We don't have much of these two yet, but it's really so nice to see them, I feel like they could become best friends. Both of them have taught each other so many lessons that it's beautiful. The part that breaks my heart is that the two of them are envious of each other in the nicest way possible.

I can't say that their first meeting was that great, I mean, would you be happy with someone who tries to buy Yukine from Yato? I was super pissed off at Ebisu and moreover there were suspicions running around that he was the sorcerer. I wanted to kill Ebisu because in my head he was an evil God who attacked Yato and Bishamon. Ooh...I was angry. Yato had mixed feelings. Ebisu asked to borrow Yukine and in return he gave money to Yato to build a shrine and we all know that that has been Yato's dream for centuries.

The second time Yato meets Ebisu is in the underworld when he is forced to go down by his father to save the sorcerer of the masks. He didn't expect it to be Ebisu at all. He actually expected it to be his father. Yato is more than confused, but Hiiro/Nora is calm and explains everything to Yato. Yato was obviously shocked and for a while he wondered if he should even be taking care of Ebisu or not.

And then Ebisu explains to Yato everything. He explains that he wants to save the human world, not destroy it and that makes Yato realize that Ebisu never attacked Bishamon or kidnapped Hiyori in the first place. Ebisu wasn't bad at all. This makes Yato ridiculously  jealous and it makes Yato respect Evisu at the same time because Ebisu is the kind of God Yato has always wanted to be and the funny part is Yato is the God that Ebisu had always wanted to be. So then, Yato sacrifices himself for Ebisu and tells him to get out.

But then Ebisu finds out that the entrances and exits are blocked so he has no choice but to return to Izanami the Goddess of the Underworld hoping that he can at the least save Yato's life. Yato is horrified that Ebisu would even think of coming back to rescue him. He asks if that is all to Ebisu's will and when Ebisu replies negative and gives his reasons, Yato grabs him and they both ttry to escape Izanami. Yato finds himself saving Ebisu not because his father wants him to but because he wants to save Ebisu and it gives him a certain pride. The trip to the underworld, teaches both Ebisu and Yato important lessons. Lessons that they learn from each other.

Happiness does not last forever and friendships do not last forever. When Yato wakes up after being saved from the underworld the first things he does is hug Hiyori and Yukin, cry his eyes out and ask about Ebisu who he rescued successfully from the underworld at the price of his own freedom. He finds out that because of his father, the heavens made a mistake and killed Ebisu and now he has been reincarnated. The horror and guilt that Yato wakes up to is too much to bear and he can't even look Ebisu in the eye or listen to Ebisu thank him. So he goes full out and yells at Ebisu's reincarnation who simply can't remember him.

Yato takes Ebisu to the place his last incarnation wanted to go to and then there they talk and Ebisu says that his last incarnation must have been bad because the heavens killed him. Yato is so filled with guilt that he yells at Ebisu telling him that he was a very kind God. Yato then apologizes to Ebisu, saying that it was all his fault. Yukine and Hiyori who are peaking through the window suddenly feel like Yato has changed after visiting the underworld and Ebisu was the reason for that change.

When Bishamon finds out about Yato's father she asks him how he can even face Ebisu and so Yato tries to ignore Ebisu, but who can ignore that adorable kid, especially after he was almost run over by a truck. I suppose Yato has accepted by now that he can't escape from Ebisu because he feels a responsibility and guilt towards Ebisu.

Yato then explains to Ebisu, he tells everything Ebisu, about his father and everything else and as Ebisu talks and explains the ways of the world to Yato, Yato realizes that Ebisu never really will change, he will always be that kind hearted God ready to lay down his life for others that Yato met in the underworld. This scene was definitely my favourite ever Yato and Ebisu scene. It made me cry. Then Ebisu turns to Yato and tells him that if he's not mad at him, neither was his previous incarnation and then he tells Yato that "It's Okay", Yato sees the older Ebisu and I was bawling my eyes out because maybe, Ebisu is what Yato needs.

This photo was an extra the author added but it speaks volumes and I've decided that Yato and Ebisu need to become best friends because they need each other, they teach other lessons they never could have learned from anyone else. They both make each other happy and feel better and I hope that we will see more of them in the later chapters of the anime.

Noragami: Nora and Yato's Relationship

So now I'm finally doing a post on one of the most interesting and positively the most confusing relationship in all of Noragami. Nora and Yato's relationship. It's messed, wacky and well, sort of sweet at times as well. Recently on Mangafox I came across a thread that was full on hating Yato for what he had done to Hiiro/Nora. A lot of people got really mad at Yato while a lot of people just got really pissed off at Nora/Hiiro. Hope you don' mind if I call her Hiiro for now. Anyway, I will be expressing my views and showing you people that it is not necessary to hate either of them.

Hiiro and Yato grew up together, not that Hiiro was actually growing or anything...but anyway, Hiiro is probably a little younger than Yukine, at least that estimated guess. Hiiro and Yato grew up as friends, as siblings, as God and Shinki. Please, those of you that think Hiiro is in love with Yato, get your story straight. She is not, at least, hasn't shown any signs of it yet. Also, if she were, she would be depressed right now and that would mean that she'd be stinging their father and I doubt he'd let her slip past that. They are siblings and they care for each other in that way.

For those of you who blamed Yato for turning Hiiro into a stray. Yato was a child, he had no idea what was going on. If you've seen Ebisu in his reincarnated child form you will understand that his mindset is like of an innocent child's. So was Yato's. He didn't even know what a shinki was at first. He had no idea it was bad to have a stray. He thought it would be fine if he had Hiiro and so did his father. Then arises the question, why didn't Yato release her in the future when he finally understood? The point is, Yato is still under the power of his father even now. He only very recently got the guts to revoke Hiiro's name, plus, personally, I felt like he still has an affectionate side for Hiiro. There is one point when he tells her: "No matter what happens, why are you always smiling?"

In that case why did he so heartlessly revoke Hiiro's name if he was attached to her and she was attached to him? It was something that Yato did after a lot of thinking. We all know how painful it is for a Shinki to have his or her name revoked. It's like having someone tell you that you are of no use to them. It's a way of almost completely cutting off ties. It was horrifying for Hiiro and especially because Yato was the one that had turned her into a stray and he was almost half of her entire life. But Yato obviously felt hurt doing this. Personally, I believe Yato did this because he cared for her. She was being used by his father to hurt those around him, he was being forced to use her to hurt others, I think this was Yato's way of saying that he wasn't going to hate her any more for all that he was forced to do with her. It was a heart-breaking moment for both sides.

Why does Yato treat her like that? It's something that I've explained above. He's tied to his father through the wish he made for him and through Hiiro. He was forced to kill so many people with Hiiro, it hurts him to be around her. We need to remember that Hiiro is a Shinki as well, someone who still wants to live, who died with a pure and noble thought. Yato hates himself for making her kill so many people by his hand. That's why he treats her like that, he's a really tortured character and I wish people realize that. Hiiro probably never falters and keeps smiling because she does not wish to sting any of the Gods who have named her.

There's a point that has actually made me really suspicious about Hiiro actually. In the underworld arc, there is a point where Yato says she's strange and she's feels no emotions and she has always smiled. That point has made me wonder whether Hiiro has actually even fathomed that she is doing anything wrong. It's hard to understand, but I think Hiiro has been seriously brainwashed by Yato's father. We see here that Yato although he's hesitant about being close to Hiiro, even scared because she is so innocent and cares for him, he truly is comfortable around her and cares for her. We all know that Yato is like super-duper bad at expressing himself, so he doesn't know how to show his affection to Hiiro.

Here we see Hiiro get really concerned about Yato. She says that she is not afraid because their father will rescue them. Despite that faith and all her endless smiles, Hiiro still panics when Yato can't get out. She really does care for him as a sister would.

Last but not least, I think this is everyone's favourite Yato and Hiiro scene in the entire of the Manga. Here we actually come to understand these certain things. Yato knows Hiiro is attached to him, loves him like a brother and he pretty much cares for her like a sister, but they both have a past that they simply cannot forget. It's a rather torturous and sad past and it makes things so complicated. I know if possible, Yato would do anything to free Hiiro from their father. I hope they can solve the things between them.