What's Usagi waiting for?

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 20:41 -0700

estee wrote:But then we're back to the driving force of Japanese culture at that time.

And that is obligation.

Obligation to one's duty, to his or her master.

Tomoe would never violate her obligation no matter how reprehensible.

Of course, Usagi, being a Ronin, is free to do what he pleases. If he doesn't like how Tomoe is being treated, well, one can only guess what his reaction will be.

I'd have to disagree. Stan has been so ambiguous with Tomoe's characterization up to this point there's no telling how she'll deal with her predicament. We've seen in both THE MOTHER OF MOUNTAINS and TOMOE'S STORY that Tomoe possesses a frightening inner rage, not unlike her sister Noriko - a spark that could be flamed into bloody rebellion if the loathsome Horikawa pushed her one more inch.

estee · Post by **estee** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:03 -0700

Yes, but would she use that rage against her lord, who she's protected and obeyed all of her life?

shaxper · Post by **shaxper** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 14:12 -0700

Ben wrote: I'd have to disagree. Stan has been so ambiguous with Tomoe's characterization up to this point there's no telling how she'll deal with her predicament. We've seen in both THE MOTHER OF MOUNTAINS and TOMOE'S STORY that Tomoe possesses a frightening inner rage, not unlike her sister Noriko - a spark that could be flamed into bloody rebellion if the loathsome Horikawa pushed her one more inch.

I really like your take on Tomoe's character. You've just helped me to love her even more than I already did

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 16:08 -0700

estee wrote:Yes, but would she use that rage against her lord, who she's protected and obeyed all of her life?

Noriyuki is intelligent enough to realize that Horikawa exploited his inexperience as a lord, but by then it'll be far too late for him to reverse what he helped to set in motion. In a scenario where Tomoe chose to fight back, she'd be forced to defy him as much as Horikawa and Lord Ito.

Krogu · Post by **Krogu** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:38 -0700

Probably, when Usagi will stop his travels, the series will also finish, and that would be unlikely

estee · Post by **estee** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:53 -0700

Ben wrote:
Noriyuki is intelligent enough to realize that Horikawa exploited his inexperience as a lord, but by then it'll be far too late for him to reverse what he helped to set in motion. In a scenario where Tomoe chose to fight back, she'd be forced to defy him as much as Horikawa and Lord Ito.

In that case, I can see Tomoe having a 'head-ache' all the time.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:10 -0700

If ever a reason is given (and I think it would be cool if there was, someday, when the time is right, stated just matter-of-factly with no unnecessary dwelling on it), I would love it to be simply that Usagi realizes it is his karma to wander the round, because that is how he does the most good.

Earlier on in the series, Usagi would often feel frustrated by all the trouble he'd run into, all the times he'd come to a town only to find that it needed saving from bandits or monsters or ninjas. Nowadays - particularly seen in the most recent issue, #124 - he seems more resigned to the fact that there are always people in need, and that he can always be there to help them while he is on the road.

He's done an incredible amount of good that way. It is his path. Even Jotaro realizes how important it is to Usagi, and doesn't want to disrupt it by revealing that he knows about their connection. I don't at all see Usagi settling down and becoming a teacher like Katsuichi. That's another reason Chizu suits him best - life on the road suits him best, and so anyone who ends up with him needs to be properly suited for that life.

shaxper · Post by **shaxper** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 21:22 -0700

Martin wrote:If ever a reason is given (and I think it would be cool if there was, someday, when the time is right, stated just matter-of-factly with no unnecessary dwelling on it), I would love it to be simply that Usagi realizes it is his karma to wander the round, because that is how he does the most good.

Earlier on in the series, Usagi would often feel frustrated by all the trouble he'd run into, all the times he'd come to a town only to find that it needed saving from bandits or monsters or ninjas. Nowadays - particularly seen in the most recent issue, #124 - he seems more resigned to the fact that there are always people in need, and that he can always be there to help them while he is on the road.

He's done an incredible amount of good that way. It is his path. Even Jotaro realizes how important it is to Usagi, and doesn't want to disrupt it by revealing that he knows about their connection. I don't at all see Usagi settling down and becoming a teacher like Katsuichi. That's another reason Chizu suits him best - life on the road suits him best, and so anyone who ends up with him needs to be properly suited for that life.

Very insightful. I would absolutely accept such an explanation and execution if it were ever offered in the comic. Well, everything except for the part about Chizu