Shigure/Akito: Manipulation - A Fanmix
Shigure/Akito: Manipulation Mix
(Okay, so the cover doesn't match the mix. I CLAIM IRONY!)
WARNING: Contains spoilers for up to CHAPTER 101.
How can you sum up Shigure and Akito's through hell-and-high-water relationship? There are sweet childhood memories and bitter betrayals. There are flowers and violence, lies and desire. Not to mention an awkward love triangle or two. Somewhere buried under the manipulation and obsession is genuine love, and it all started with a dream. This is a passion that nearly destroys everyone around them, but could never die.
So I present to you The Manipulation Mix, a fanmix that celebrates the twisted, manipulative, obsessive, healing love of Shigure and Akito Sohma. This mix began long before the final chapters of Furuba, so it really focuses on the years pre-series and runs just past mid-way through. Spoilers for up to ch 101. I'm not sure there's a real cohesion to the mix, but sigh, all of these songs screamed Shikito at me for one reason or another.
1. "Slow Like Honey" by Fiona Apple
Whenever I hear this song, I think of Akito's affect on Shigure. From the moment he dreamed of her conception, his heart belonged to Akito. He's almost obsessively been chasing after her ever since.
So I stretch myself across, like a bridge
And I pull you to the edge
And stand there waiting
Trying to attain
The end to satisfy the story
Shall I release you?
Must I release you?
As I rise to meet my glory
But my big secret
Gonna hover over your life
Gonna keep you reaching
2. "Hallelujah" by Rufus Wainwright
One of my favorite covers of this song. This is one of my favorite Shikito songs, too. It just strikes me as the state they moved to after Akito drew closer to Kureno and the aftermath of Shigure and Ren's encounter.
There was a time you let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
I remember when I moved in you,
The holy dark was moving too
And every breath we drew
Was Hallelujah
3. "Strange and Beautiful (I'll Put A Spell On You)" by Aqualung
These two have been after each other since they were kids, and yet they kept missing each other. Shigure wanted Akito all to himself, and Akito wanted to make Shigure turn and look at her. I think this song applies to both of them in that respect.
I've been watching your world from afar,
I've been trying to be where you are,
And I've been secretly falling apart, unseen.
To me, you're strange and you're beautiful,
You'd be so perfect with me but you just can't see,
You turn every head but you don't see me.
I'll put a spell on you,
You'll fall asleep and I'll put a spell on you.
And when I wake you, I'll be the first thing you see,
And you'll realize that you love me.
Sometimes, the last thing you want comes in first,
Sometimes, the first thing you want never comes,
And I know, that waiting is all you can do sometimes.
4. "Addictive" by Faithless
Haha, I think the title says it all. I think of the degrading conversations that Shigure 'drops by' to have with Akito, especially at the summer house.
I leave with a lie
Maybe our love will never die
Or, maybe it's the last time I make you cry
Make my appeal like the condemned
Let's go away for the weekend
Your life I will steal
And descend with it into the pit
I'm addicted.
Change around the words that you say to suit me fine
5. "Please, Please, Please (Young Hollywood)" by Head Automatica
Um. A sexy couple needs a sexy song.
You scream louder than fiction,
And you get down on your knees,
And tear open your heart,
So I can love you and your disease.
You lick the hand that feeds you,
And kiss the blade that cuts.
I wanna fuck you in your god's hands
When your praying bites the dust
Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please,
Let me anoint the lust inside you
Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please,
Let me devalue whats inside you
6. "Pretty When You Cry" by Vast
I love the way this song contradicts itself. Shigure himself admits he's not a nice person, and he's willing to hurt anyone in pursuit of his dream: that includes Akito. He'll lie and manipulate others all in the name of his love for Akito.
You hurt me baby
I hurt you baby
If you knew how much I loved you
You would run away
But when I treat you bad
It always makes you want to stay
I didn't want to hurt you baby
I didn't want to hurt you baby
I didn't want to hurt you baby
7. "Liar" by Emilie Autumn
No one does ugly beautiful quite the way Emilie Autumn does. That woman and a violin are made for each other. Hurt and love walk a fine line, and I think this song captures a lot of the back and forth of Shigure and Akito's relationship. Above all of the other Juunishi, Shigure is the one Akito most wants to never leave her. Shigure feels like he's justified in all of his actions if the result is getting Akito all to himself.
I want to hold you to the sun,
I want to be your faithful one.
I want to show you all the beauty,
You don't even know you hold.
I'm hurting you for your own good.
I'd die for you - you know I would.
I'd give up all my wealth,
To buy you back the soul you never sold.
I want to mix our blood,
And put it in the ground,
So you can never leave.
I want to win your trust,
Your faith, your heart;
You'll never be deceived.
Liar, Liar, Liar, Liar
8. "#1 Crush" by Garbage
This song started it all. This song struck me as very Shigure. In vol 3 he thinks, "You can take my teeth or my bones. They don't matter to me. I will get it. And I'll do whatever it takes to get there. Even lie or use people. I will make that dream last forever."
I will lie for you,
I can steal for you,
I will crawl on hands and knees until you see,
You're just like me.
Violate all my love that I'm missing.
Throw away all the pain that I'm living.
You will believe in me,
And I can never be ignored.
I would die for you; I would kill for you.
I will steal for you; I'd do time for you.
I would wait for you; I'd make room for you.
I'd sail ships for you.
To be close to you; to be a part of you.
'Cause I believe in you.
9. "Sanctified" by Nine Inch Nails
Another song for Shigure. I think of this as the wake of Shigure's encounter with Ren.
If she says come inside I'll come inside for her.
If she says give it all, I'll give everything to her.
I am justified,
I am purified,
I am sanctified,
Inside you.
Heaven's just a rumor she'll dispel
As she walks me through the nicest parts of hell.
I still dream of lips I never should have never kissed.
Well she knows exactly what I can't resist.
10. "Amazing" by Blue October
This song strikes me as bouncing back and forth between the two. The chorus has always reminded me of Akito's desperate desire to remain "special" and her growing hysteria as she realizes she's losing her position. Above all others, Akito wants Shigure to look at her like he looks at no one else. The verses remind me of Shigure.
How am I supposed to breathe?
I try to relax. I touch your still frame
So I can watch you closer,
And study the ways I believe I belong to you
I scratch at your waist line, your doll hair
I dig up the thought of how your eyes glow
So I make you my religion, my collision, an escape goat
So have I found your secret weak spot, baby?
Can you pretend I'm amazing?
I can pretend I'm amazing...
Instead of what we both know
I cut to the punch line baby
Can you pretend I'm amazing
Instead of what we both know
11. "Strangelove" by Depeche Mode
I'll be honest: it's a lot easier finding songs from Shigure's perspective than it is from Akito's. I think the lyrics pretty much say it all.
There'll be days
When I'll stray
I may appear to be
Constantly out of reach
I give in to sin
Because I like to practice what I preach
I'm not trying to say
I'll have it all my way
I'm always willing to learn
When you've got something to teach
And I'll make it all worthwhile
I'll make your heart smile
12. "Ask For Answers" by Placebo
This song always makes me think of what Shigure's reaction to Akito and Kureno might be.
Time to pass you to the test;
Hanging on my lover's breath.
Always coming second best;
Pictures of my lover's chest.
Get through this night, there are no second chances.
This time I might, to ask the sea for answers.
Always falling to the floor, softer than it was before.
Dog boy - media whore, it's who the hell you take me for.
These bonds are shackle free, wrapped in lust and lunacy.
Tiny touch of jealousy, these bonds are shackle free.
13. "Come in Closer" by Blue October
As this songs ends, a woman's voice says quietly, "You cheated on me with another woman." But still, the lyrics beg to "come in closer." SIGH, Akito and Shigure can relate.
But still the truth remains lethal,
A lie made by man,
Where my shoes become hammers,
And my words become sand.
Like a sour patch, a wedding batch
Of roses you threw across my floor.
In the rusted arm rocking chair,
Away from your storm.
But I want you to come in closer,
Come in closer. Come in closer.
14. "Psychobabble" by Frou Frou
And right after a song that asks "come in closer" comes a song that says "don't come in any closer." When Akito found out about Shigure and Ren, she kicked him out. There was a time when she tried to push him away, but that resolve kept crumbling. This songs makes me think of chapter 101.
Do just what I tell you
And no one will get hurt
Don't come in any closer
'Cause I dunno how long I can hold my heart in two
If you think that it's so damn easy
Then what do you need me for?
Just look at the state of you
Babe, snap out of it
You're not listening to this
And just for once could you
Let me finish my sentence?
15. "Manipulation" by Lesbians on Ecstasy
I dedicate this song to Shigure Sohma. This song is slow, a little sexy, and slightly apologetic. The lyrics say it all:
I wanna manipulate my girlfriend,
I wanna play games with her head,
I wanna make her scream and yell.
I just want to hear her beg.
16. "Junkie" by Poe
They are addicted to each other, kind of obsessively. I'm at a loss for words!
I know how wear the costume
I know how to wear the mask
I even like the feel of having to ask
I like the sound of your whistle
I like the way you wear your grin
I even like the taste of my will caving in
I'm not a junkie for your love
I'm not a junkie
This is such a sweet collaboration
You got the power & I got the shame
Funny thing is we both want somebody to blame
17. "Everybody Here Wants You" by Jeff Buckley
Ah, to end with Mr. Jeff Buckley. Even though both Shigure and Akito took other partners, the two ALWAYS came back to each other. Mayu and Kureno knew it, too.
Such a thing of wonder in this crowd,
I'm a stranger in this town, you're free with me.
And our eyes locked in downcast love, I sit here proud,
Even now you're undressed in your dreams with me.
I'm only here for this moment.
I know everybody here wants you.
I know everybody here thinks he needs you.
I'll be waiting right here just to show you
How our love will blow it all away.
Please drop a comment if you take anything. Or just to, you know, squee about Shikito.
ETA: Haha, I have a sendspace account, so I can see how many times each file has been downloaded, or at least the d/l link clicked. These songs are getting pimped, yo. Emilie Autumn's "Liar" has the most d/ls by far, which makes me happy as a big EA fan. It's really interesting to see what people are downloading the most of, and I squee a little that it's mostly pretty even. I'm really glad people are getting the chance to A) share the Shikito love and B) spread the music love. I love all of these songs, so it's pretty rocking they're being heard. These artists, especially the indie ones, deserve to be known. It took a lot of time to put this mix together with song choice, uploading, and lyrics. It's really great that it's seeing so much love. Thanks!