Note: For those who haven’t watched “K”, spoilers ahead ~
The anime series “K” that I’ve been following for the past 3 months just ended yesterday. Although I expected it, part of me still hoped that the ending wouldn’t turn out as it had. I want my favourite character Shiro back! T_T Please revive Shiro in Season 2!
I was attracted to this series after watching episode 2 “accidentally” one Saturday night on Animax. I even stayed up every Friday morning at 00:30/01:00 so that I can tune in to Animax to watch the same time telecast as Japan. And of course again, the seiyuus did an excellent job. Without them, I guess the series wouldn’t be half as interesting. I always wonder how Japanese anime producers manage to choose seiyuus so befitting to the characters and how the seiyuus manage to bring these characters to life =) All in all, they are simply amazing!
This series is interesting in that unlike other anime series, it was not based on an existing manga series. Yes there was a short prequel drawn (Memory of Red) before the anime was aired but there wasn’t any real connection to the main series. It just make you keep following it every week to see what is going to happen next (especially when hints were constantly dropped along the way that there will be twists upcoming). The storyline is unique and refreshing, and the graphics are just breathtaking. Plus the characters are either all hot guys or cute boys that make you adore them more with the progressive airing of each episode =x
This series, in line with the first impression it gave me, has a lot of potential for BL. The most popular pairing that ensued is not the one I had expected though :p For those who don’t like BL, don’t squint, as this series only gave subtle hints of possible pairings but left lots to the imagination of fangirls, much alike the works of the Clampgods ;)
PAIRINGS:
Isana Yashiro (伊佐那 社) & Yatogami Kuro (夜刀神 狗朗)
I would say this is my favourite pair (since Shiro is my favourite character & is the reason why I started watching this series =x, & Kuroh is so handsome & cool too!), and also the most implicit pair. For some reason, Kuroh was just unable to kill Shiro (emotionally, not physically) throughout the series, although that was his intial goal for pursing Shiro. Even when Shiro offered himself freely to Kuroh to kill him, Kuroh still refused (in episode 6 when Shiro no longer believes in himself at the football stadium, in episode 7 when Shiro insisted that Neko retrieve his memories). It turns out that Shiro is indeed a very kind person, and he is not the murderer (phew!). In the end, he even sacrificed himself to eliminate the Colourless King (although I still hoped that he is alive, just like Neko :’().
Isana Yashiro is apparently 17 years old (a high school student), 1 year younger than Kuoh. However in actual fact, we all know that Shiro is the Silver King (also the first king) who has lived for more than half a century. Hints of this pairing began right at the beginning in the first episode. Shiro blatantly blushed when Kuroh held him against his chest while heroically rescuing him (it was like love at first sight ~). Subsequently, Shiro keep on blushing infront of Kuroh – back in the dorm in episode 3, at the football stadium in episode 6). The two also appear to become more and more attached to each other as the series progresses. Although Kuroh is supposedly to kill Shiro, yet he protected him time and time again from Homra & Scepter 4, even to the extent of sacrificing himself so that Shiro can flee (episode 7). Shiro also couldn’t bear to leave Kuroh behind in times of danger and went back for him (episode 7, 11). Though I’m not sure why Kuroh offered to be Shiro’s clansman in the last episode (as he served Miwa Ichigan whole-heartedly all these while), it seems like Kuroh is trying to form a bond with Shiro so that they can continue to stay at each other’s side.
Yata Misaki (八田 美咲) & Fushimi Saruhiko (伏見 猿比古)
This “couple” is apparently the most popular pairing in “K”, and also the most explicit pair. It was mentioned in Wikipedia that Fushimi has interest in nothing but Misaki, and that he betrayed Homra in order to get Misaki's hatred as his attention towards him. On a personal note, I also believe that Fushimi joined Scepter 4 with the intent to grow stronger and more powerful so that Misaki will admire him and start paying him more attention as he did with Mikoto. Numerous fan works had sprung up in commemoration of this pair. You can find really great fan made manga strips done by various artists at http://veggie-milk.tumblr.com/.
This couple has also began to dawn on me with time ;) I first took notice of Miskaki because of his voice (wahaha :p). I was thinking: “Wow, this seiyuu is really amazing! He made this character sound so life like!”. This is especially true in Misaki’s expression of pain (when he was punched by Kuroh in episode 1, and stabbed by Fushimi in episode 5). And honestly, I couldn’t recognize that this seiyuu is none other but my favourite – Fukuyama Jun! He didn’t sound like the him that I can usually tell apart quite easily. But then again, it’s Fukuyama san we’re talking about – well known for his ability to exercise great flexibility of his voice ;)
Misaki and Fushimi first gave people the impression that they were enemies in episode 5. Unknown to all before more of the story unfolded, these two used to be very close friends and went to high school together before they were picked up by Mikoto and joined Homra. It appears that this pairing is lopsided – Fushimi is obsessed with Misaki but Misaki didn’t seem to realize Fushimi’s affection at all. Also, Misaki appeared to be shy and has a soft spot for females (he’s not gay??). However, it was rather undeniable that Fushimi is important to him, judging from his deep hatred towards Fushimi for betraying Homra (& him) that he can never seem to let go and continue to bear a sore spot in his heart. In my opinion, Misaki’s hatred sprung from losing something he deemed to be very important and precious to him. You can also tell that Misaki still treasures Fushimi a lot and tried to bring him back by recalling memories of their old times together whenever they meet. Fushimi, on the other hand, was desperately trying to gain Misaki’s attention whenever he has the opportunity. In episode 5, Fushimi purposely provoked Misaki by appearing infront of him and hurling insults after spotting him through the window at Ashinaka – he could have just left Misaki alone since Misaki didn’t even know he was there. In episode 11, Fushimi also intervened out of nowhere when Misaki tried to fight Awashima and drew Miskai’s attention back to himself.
I personally adore their height difference – Misaki is 1.67m & Fushimi is 1.78m tall. And their affinity is great and amusing. For those who have not heard the drama CD, please go listen to it (you can easily find it on youtube). The interview between Misaki & Fushima is very funny, I was laughing all the way ^_^ It was exceptionally cute when Fushimi teased Misaki of their height difference =x
On a side note, not sure if any of you realized, Misaki’s horoscope is Cancer while Fushimi’s is Scorpio. These 2 horoscopes are the most compatible with each other (http://www.findyourfate.com/compatibility/cancer-scorpio.html). I really applaud the producer’s effort in taking note of these trival details ;)
Suo Mikoto (周防 尊) & Munakata Reishi (宗像 礼司)
It appears that Munakata has an implicit attraction towards Mikoto, and he treasures him a lot. In the last episode, Awashima commented that “kings are so attracted to each other”, and she obviously refers to Munakata & Mikoto.
Munakata’s feelings for Mikoto reveal itself implicitly throughout the series. Munakata arrested Mikoto right at the beginning of the series with the reason of him disrupting order. However, you can tell later that the real reason why Munukata had imprisoned Mikoto is to prevent him from causing more ravage which will cause his downfall and eventual death. By imprisoning Mikoto personally, he will be able to prevent him from acting rashly. However, when Mikoto eventually broke free, Munakata still tried to helphim by asking Awashima to secretly arrange a meeting with Mikoto through Kusanagi in the hope that he will be able to persuade Mikoto to abandon his pursue for the Colourless King. There is no real angst between the two and Munakata mentioned in episode 10 that Mikoto is an old friend. In the last episode, Munakata fights Mikoto but only with the intent to save him, even till the very end. He must be breaking up inside when he stabbed Mikoto right through his heart. The scene towards the ending where he returned back to his clansman alone left a deep impression in me. I can almost feel for him – it was filled with loneliness and forlorn. Munakata still appeared strong, although he had just lost the person most precious to him. I don’t know how, but please revive Mikoto too in Season 2 ok? お願い致しますMr Gou Nakanishi?
