do fangirls dream of electric obsessive compulsive chronicling?
So I did the meme yesterday, "give me a pairing and I'll give you my thoughts on it"? Somewhat unwisely cloverfield suggested tsubasa's Kuro/Fai and my brain just went OMG I LOVE KUROFAI. I spent like. Hours? Finding my favourite bits of the manga, so I'm posting this damn entry so my SRS, WELL-SPOKEN AND ELOQUANT THOUGHTS ON MY ANIME OTP CAN BE RECORDED FOREVER MORE.
OKAY. ok. KURO/FAI. The first thing you have to know about me and Tsubasa is I am ALL FAI ALL THE TIME. The second thing you have to know is KURO/FAI BEST OTP EVER. I mean, it provides me with everything I look for in a pairing: grumpiness, angst, fluff, vampires, oversized swords, prosthetic arms, and most important SELF-SACRIFICING EPIC LOVE VOICED IN REALLY GRUMPY TERMS. Like, I actually cannot function like a normal human being without squee and flail, it's kind of sad to witness but it makes me happy so idc!
Unfortunately the downside to my being a ridiculously 'shippy fangirl is that I can't talk about it without bursting into high-pitched dolphin noises (eeeeeeeeeee! eeeeeeeee!) so imma post manga panels and talk about how much they make me do seal clappy hands. I'll do that in comments following this one so your inbox isn't all spam all the time. XD
I love how their characterisation has changed and developed and they are both equally responsible for this in each other, it is ludicrously awesome. I mean, when we first meet them Fai is a stepford smiler and Kurogane is this insanely angry man obsessed with finding strength, and they're painted as total polar opposites: Fai's blue and white colour scheme to Kurogane's red and black; Fai's blue eyes to Kurogane's red, blond hair to black, Fai's indifference ("Sure I'll come, long as I don't die!") with Kurogane's growly want to go home.
I love how quickly they settle into the 'parent' roles, despite Kurogane's moaning. I mean, by the THIRTEENTH CHAPTER they're both all parental concern for Syaoran and Sakura, how awesome is that?
I love the constant teasing, the nicknames and Fai's general ridiculousness. I love how easily he riles Kurogane up and how Kurogane's tough scary ninja persona falls away with constant exposure to Fai!
Also ok MOSTLY I LOVE HOW FAI'S HARASSMENT IS REALLY FLIRTATIOUS.
Yeah, Fai, I *bet* you worked on things that didn't 'require speech'. *eyebrow waggle*
I love Kurogane carrying a wounded Fai home over one shoulder. Of course, that whole page is hilarious. (Especially if you look closely at Fai in the bottom panel; there are 3 shoes present and part of a leg. Given Sakura's positioning in both that panel and the one preceeding it, I think I can safely say: Kurogane literally dropped Fai ass-first on Syaoran).
I love Fai gradually talking to Kurogane. I love how Fai goes from THIS bald-faced liar:
... to this expression when he's finally honest.
... but mostly because Kurogane won't let Fai lie.
I love how they are such an obvious battle couple. I mean, look at them go!
IT JUST GETS BETTER FROM THE TOKYO ARC. I MEAN, FLAT OUT FROM THE START.
From Kurogane's horrified reaction to find his son/student-figure dragging the bloody, mutilated, unconscious Fai (check out my pro MS paint skills) to hhim holding Fai, guarding him from Syaoran:
AND THEN! His passionate what have you done, made ALL THE MORE AMAZING by his having spent 120 chapters thus far calling Fai names and useless and annoying!
His reaction to Fai's "goodbye, cruel world" in just the following pages is ridiculously awesome: [1], [2]. Naturally, this culminates in...
This is just such a wonderful moment of character progression! From the man who initially refused to give up his weapon just to get back home to asking the witch he dislikes to save Fai, because FAI'S LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING HE OWNS - HE DOESN'T EVEN BLINK. He doesn't ask for more information! I MEAN. I. I CAN'T STOP SQUEEING. I also can't get over how he's holding Fai here - very real softness from a man who vigorously denies having any:
And then again during the agonising vampiric transformation sequence:
It was about this point that I decided I was damn sure Kuro/Fai was canon. I mean. LOOK AT THEM. I can't get over this sequence, THE LOOK ON HIS FACE AS HE PUTS THE EYEPATCH ON. He looked Fai right in the face before he reached for it, and I like to think Kurogane putting the eyepatch on for Fai was an effort at preserving his dignity.
I've been at this for over an hour, so I'm gonna post a few more glaringly obvious manga panels that pretty much announce why I love them:
Kurogane's reaction to Fai doing what he's been demanding Fai do for 130~ chapters - call him by his real name.
Fai knowing Kurogane well enough to know why he did what he did, and Kurogane not denying it.
The whole Infinity feeding sequence, Kurogane being the one who makes Fai feed when he isn't interested, and his expression after Fai walks off when he's done, and the deliberate way he distances himself from Fai after Fai calls him Kurogane again.
Kurogane knowing what's going on in Fai's pretty, suicidal head pretty much all the time.
Kurogane stopping Fai from killing himself despite just witnessing Fai murder the princess with 0 provocation.
Fai offering his only remaining eye in order to return to Celes, because he cares so little about his own life that he doesn't mind being blind, and Kurogane's fantastic response: *WHOMP*.
(Also, I totally like this sequence after the offer. Fai's expression is amazing, and that's a good use of that collar, Kurogane!)
(click for larger). Onto Celes/Ceres/Serisu/Some random Englishification.
After seeing the sordid details of Fai's past, in which Kurogane learns he has been a willing tool of the same total bastard who killed Kurogane's mother, Kurogane's response is to say he doesn't care, and help Fai work his way out. I can't even.
And then, of course, there's this:
Kurogane has attacked one human opponent aiming to actually kill them before: Seishirou, after believing him to have killed Fai and Syaoran. He said then that he didn't care about the consequences of Tomoyo's curse (driven by anger), and plainly hasn't outright killed anyone since he got it. He breaks it for Fai, to both save Fai's life and spare him the pain of killing the man who saved him from hell. I think that's pretty awesome, and this is coming from a man so badass, he does this instead of abandon Fai to a collapsing dimension:
THEN! Nihon! Fai's very first comment to Kurogane is THIS: [1], [2]! THIS IS HOW THEY SAY I LOVE YOU. IT'S CANON.
One last series of images because I love this particular scene so much more than words can say. I essentially read the whole thing as if they're married, but tbh, it doesn't actually change how ridiculously awesome it is:
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
and then their last appearence in xxxHolic where they are basically a married couple! Look at that peaceful smile on Kurogane's face, Fai refilling Kurogane's cup despite quite clearly drinking something totally different (he has a glass bottle next to him, Kurogane has the jug) makes me go HOMG. ALSO NOTE THE CHOPSTICKS. in my headcanon kurogane taught fai how to use them by offering him a blowjob for every successfully consumed meal *nods*
tl;dr I love KuroFai because they are a good influence on each other. Srsly, Fai goes from this ("formal fai the liar"):
And Kurogane moves from this scary smile:
to this:
and it is all down to each other. to me thats pretty much amazing. ♥
Have one last picture of happy Fai from the epilogue proving ninja can totally be positive influences on angst muffins:
I am a total fangirl but guess what, I DON'T CARE.
OKAY. ok. KURO/FAI. The first thing you have to know about me and Tsubasa is I am ALL FAI ALL THE TIME. The second thing you have to know is KURO/FAI BEST OTP EVER. I mean, it provides me with everything I look for in a pairing: grumpiness, angst, fluff, vampires, oversized swords, prosthetic arms, and most important SELF-SACRIFICING EPIC LOVE VOICED IN REALLY GRUMPY TERMS. Like, I actually cannot function like a normal human being without squee and flail, it's kind of sad to witness but it makes me happy so idc!
Unfortunately the downside to my being a ridiculously 'shippy fangirl is that I can't talk about it without bursting into high-pitched dolphin noises (eeeeeeeeeee! eeeeeeeee!) so imma post manga panels and talk about how much they make me do seal clappy hands. I'll do that in comments following this one so your inbox isn't all spam all the time. XD
I love how their characterisation has changed and developed and they are both equally responsible for this in each other, it is ludicrously awesome. I mean, when we first meet them Fai is a stepford smiler and Kurogane is this insanely angry man obsessed with finding strength, and they're painted as total polar opposites: Fai's blue and white colour scheme to Kurogane's red and black; Fai's blue eyes to Kurogane's red, blond hair to black, Fai's indifference ("Sure I'll come, long as I don't die!") with Kurogane's growly want to go home.
I love how quickly they settle into the 'parent' roles, despite Kurogane's moaning. I mean, by the THIRTEENTH CHAPTER they're both all parental concern for Syaoran and Sakura, how awesome is that?
I love the constant teasing, the nicknames and Fai's general ridiculousness. I love how easily he riles Kurogane up and how Kurogane's tough scary ninja persona falls away with constant exposure to Fai!
Also ok MOSTLY I LOVE HOW FAI'S HARASSMENT IS REALLY FLIRTATIOUS.
Yeah, Fai, I *bet* you worked on things that didn't 'require speech'. *eyebrow waggle*
I love Kurogane carrying a wounded Fai home over one shoulder. Of course, that whole page is hilarious. (Especially if you look closely at Fai in the bottom panel; there are 3 shoes present and part of a leg. Given Sakura's positioning in both that panel and the one preceeding it, I think I can safely say: Kurogane literally dropped Fai ass-first on Syaoran).
I love Fai gradually talking to Kurogane. I love how Fai goes from THIS bald-faced liar:
... to this expression when he's finally honest.
... but mostly because Kurogane won't let Fai lie.
I love how they are such an obvious battle couple. I mean, look at them go!
IT JUST GETS BETTER FROM THE TOKYO ARC. I MEAN, FLAT OUT FROM THE START.
From Kurogane's horrified reaction to find his son/student-figure dragging the bloody, mutilated, unconscious Fai (check out my pro MS paint skills) to hhim holding Fai, guarding him from Syaoran:
AND THEN! His passionate what have you done, made ALL THE MORE AMAZING by his having spent 120 chapters thus far calling Fai names and useless and annoying!
His reaction to Fai's "goodbye, cruel world" in just the following pages is ridiculously awesome: [1], [2]. Naturally, this culminates in...
This is just such a wonderful moment of character progression! From the man who initially refused to give up his weapon just to get back home to asking the witch he dislikes to save Fai, because FAI'S LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING HE OWNS - HE DOESN'T EVEN BLINK. He doesn't ask for more information! I MEAN. I. I CAN'T STOP SQUEEING. I also can't get over how he's holding Fai here - very real softness from a man who vigorously denies having any:
And then again during the agonising vampiric transformation sequence:
It was about this point that I decided I was damn sure Kuro/Fai was canon. I mean. LOOK AT THEM. I can't get over this sequence, THE LOOK ON HIS FACE AS HE PUTS THE EYEPATCH ON. He looked Fai right in the face before he reached for it, and I like to think Kurogane putting the eyepatch on for Fai was an effort at preserving his dignity.
I've been at this for over an hour, so I'm gonna post a few more glaringly obvious manga panels that pretty much announce why I love them:
Kurogane's reaction to Fai doing what he's been demanding Fai do for 130~ chapters - call him by his real name.
Fai knowing Kurogane well enough to know why he did what he did, and Kurogane not denying it.
The whole Infinity feeding sequence, Kurogane being the one who makes Fai feed when he isn't interested, and his expression after Fai walks off when he's done, and the deliberate way he distances himself from Fai after Fai calls him Kurogane again.
Kurogane knowing what's going on in Fai's pretty, suicidal head pretty much all the time.
Kurogane stopping Fai from killing himself despite just witnessing Fai murder the princess with 0 provocation.
Fai offering his only remaining eye in order to return to Celes, because he cares so little about his own life that he doesn't mind being blind, and Kurogane's fantastic response: *WHOMP*.
(Also, I totally like this sequence after the offer. Fai's expression is amazing, and that's a good use of that collar, Kurogane!)
(click for larger). Onto Celes/Ceres/Serisu/Some random Englishification.
After seeing the sordid details of Fai's past, in which Kurogane learns he has been a willing tool of the same total bastard who killed Kurogane's mother, Kurogane's response is to say he doesn't care, and help Fai work his way out. I can't even.
And then, of course, there's this:
Kurogane has attacked one human opponent aiming to actually kill them before: Seishirou, after believing him to have killed Fai and Syaoran. He said then that he didn't care about the consequences of Tomoyo's curse (driven by anger), and plainly hasn't outright killed anyone since he got it. He breaks it for Fai, to both save Fai's life and spare him the pain of killing the man who saved him from hell. I think that's pretty awesome, and this is coming from a man so badass, he does this instead of abandon Fai to a collapsing dimension:
THEN! Nihon! Fai's very first comment to Kurogane is THIS: [1], [2]! THIS IS HOW THEY SAY I LOVE YOU. IT'S CANON.
One last series of images because I love this particular scene so much more than words can say. I essentially read the whole thing as if they're married, but tbh, it doesn't actually change how ridiculously awesome it is:
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
and then their last appearence in xxxHolic where they are basically a married couple! Look at that peaceful smile on Kurogane's face, Fai refilling Kurogane's cup despite quite clearly drinking something totally different (he has a glass bottle next to him, Kurogane has the jug) makes me go HOMG. ALSO NOTE THE CHOPSTICKS. in my headcanon kurogane taught fai how to use them by offering him a blowjob for every successfully consumed meal *nods*
tl;dr I love KuroFai because they are a good influence on each other. Srsly, Fai goes from this ("formal fai the liar"):
And Kurogane moves from this scary smile:
to this:
and it is all down to each other. to me thats pretty much amazing. ♥
Have one last picture of happy Fai from the epilogue proving ninja can totally be positive influences on angst muffins:
I am a total fangirl but guess what, I DON'T CARE.