Mr. Sakai, (UY 93 Spoilers!!!)

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 18:22 -0700

The buck-toothed "geek" Tomoe is supposed to marry doesn't actually appear in 93, but does in one of the previous issues (the last issue of "The Treasure of the Mother of Mountains"??). He's a really rotund beaver-looking character...

DarthNuriko · Post by **DarthNuriko** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 22:27 -0700

I think Mayhem was referring to #91 when talking about finally being able to see Tomoe's, um, betrothed.

Post by **Mayhem** » Mon May 01, 2006 9:42 -0700

I was... the last issue I have is #90, waiting for the most recent 3 to arrive in the mail now.

Deathstroke · Post by **Deathstroke** » Thu May 04, 2006 15:11 -0700

I just read the issue today and it was just fantastic.

I loved page 21, the expression on Tomoe's face was captured about as perfectly as possible. (Was she expecting Usagi to come back?)

As far as the Story Notes page, Mr. Sakai mentioned that the road with the stone is a forbidden road and could be seen as a metaphor for a the possibility of a relationship between Usagi and Tomoe. My question (leaving aside the already developing storyline of Tomoe being married off to someone else) is why? At the moment both are free of anything resembling marital commitments, and I think it's an understatement to say that they both appear more than fond of each other.

Is this something that will be addressed in the book?

Shishio · Post by **Shishio** » Thu May 04, 2006 15:15 -0700

Well... As a retainer of the Geishu clan, Tomoe is expected to have unwavering loyalty to the clan. If I'm not mistaken, refusing a marriage "generously" arranged by her lord is unthinkable.

Also, it would probably be a very big social faux pas for a woman of her station to marry a lowly ronin.

Deathstroke · Post by **Deathstroke** » Fri May 05, 2006 3:55 -0700

Shishio wrote:Well... As a retainer of the Geishu clan, Tomoe is expected to have unwavering loyalty to the clan. If I'm not mistaken, refusing a marriage "generously" arranged by her lord is unthinkable.

Also, it would probably be a very big social faux pas for a woman of her station to marry a lowly ronin.

Okay to the second part, that I get.

At the moment in the story however, she doesn't know she's about to be sold down the river in an arranged marriage.

hakucho · Post by **hakucho** » Fri May 05, 2006 5:46 -0700

Todd Shogun wrote:The buck-toothed "geek" Tomoe is supposed to marry doesn't actually appear in 93, but does in one of the previous issues (the last issue of "The Treasure of the Mother of Mountains"??). He's a really rotund beaver-looking character...

i was thinking he was a groundhog XP He's got the "eeeew" factor down pat, he has. >_<

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Fri May 05, 2006 15:40 -0700

He could be that or maybe a mole. Perhaps we need a new Name That Critter Contest....

At any rate, I think it's probably for the best to have Usagi move on to his normal wanderings. I mean, that's what UY's all about. If Usagi were to settle down the comic essentially ends. He would probably end up becoming a retainer to the Geishu clan and be made a lord or a general in Noriyuki's army. Even the title would need to change because he would end his occupation as a Yojimbo. A better approach would be to have Tomoe become a ronin and join Usagi on his wanderings as Lone Rabbit and Wife! Of course, for that to happen would mean the demise of Noriyuki and the Geishu clan... something Hikiji and others have been trying for quite some time now. Perhaps they end up succeeding??

On the flip side, Tomoe getting married to a rotund beaver-groundhog-mole thing is pretty sad. Depressing actually. Perhaps her feelings for Usagi are soooooo great they interfere with her loyalties to the Geishu clan. Maybe she really does follow along Tomoe Gozen's route and becomes a nun... And perhaps the marriage takes place a year or two from now, enough time for Usagi do have some more awesome adventures with the likes of Ishida, Jei/Inazuma, Gen, Kitsune, Chizu, Sanshobo...then he comes back to the Geishu Province RIGHT when the wedding plans are under way...sweeps Tomoe off her feet and they run away together! It could end up running into the biggest, baddest UY storyline yet... perhaps the marriage is secretly a plot hatched by Hikiji-loyalists to usurp the power of the Geishu Clan. Usagi finds this out through his wanderings and runs to the Geishu Clan to warn Noriyuki. Perhaps he finds out it's Tomoe and something snaps...this has the makings of quite possibly the most powerful story arc yet... C'mon Stan what do you say!!!???

Another plot twist that would be REALLY cool is say something DID happen that night between Usagi and Tomoe in issue #89, page 20. Stan is a master at "between the pages" storytelling and timing the release of information not actually presented during certain storylines that actually happened. I mean, look at the whole Usagi-Mariko-Jotaro thing. Maybe Tomoe ends up secretly carrying Usagi's child, gets hitched, but the kid comes out as a long-eared cat-rabbit hybrid, totally messing up this whole marriage thing. It is a possibility....

estee · Post by **estee** » Fri May 05, 2006 17:16 -0700

Usagi and Tomoe are just so insufferably noble and honourable that they would sacrifice their own personal happiness for their Lords, or their Families and other crap.

I mean, I was screaming at the end of 93...fricken elope you pair of putzes! Move to Winnipeg and have some kids already.

Yes, I know Winnipeg doesn't exist yet...but you get the idea.

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Fri May 05, 2006 23:46 -0700

Personally I think it's somewhat obvious that secret intimacies were taking place between Usagi and Tomoe during #88-93. Stan didn't go so far as to completely confirm it, but dropped many hints and eluded to it many times. I've counted many clues throughout those issues which confirm a secret relationship that went beyond emotions...does anyone else agree???

estee · Post by **estee** » Sat May 06, 2006 5:59 -0700

Oh yeah...they were intimate.

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Sat May 06, 2006 7:26 -0700

I was reading some of the previous posts and Stan does indicate the this marriage thing with Tomoe will probably take years to resolve...so a good chance that we'll circle back to this storyline and Usagi and Tomoe coming to grips with her impending marriage. There were other posts indicating that a mariage arrangement such as this is very complicated and takes a long time.

"I still haven't thought this entire story arc through. It will be a few years before it is resolve. I'm just planting the seed right now."

estee · Post by **estee** » Sat May 06, 2006 9:02 -0700

Even if it takes a year, I don't think Usagi would return, as his presence would be distraction to the entire event and put an unfair strain on Tomoe.

Usagi's gone for a while.

Leonardo-san · Post by **Leonardo-san** » Sun May 07, 2006 16:22 -0700

I got the comic yesterday and agree with everyone else.
This issue was amazing!!

It's not something that could just be done in "any old comic" and be successful, this story worked so well because of all the depth that was behind the gestures and the nuances of the ceremony. All of the years and stories for the characters it took to get to this issue. It was *very* emotionally moving, and yet on a surface look, so little actually moved. Awesome!
All the more a complement to Stan's story telling and art abilities!

I have seen demonstrations of tea cermonies at least 3 times that I can recall, and had someone who's been training in it describe some things about it, too. It's a very lovely ceremony, and I'd say your research paid off, Stan, because from what little I know of it, it looked good to me.
Although I would not call myself a suitable judge of acurracy for this.
<grin>

It was also doubly fun because I just had an opportunity in March to visit the Japanese gardens in Portland, Oregon (among other things up there). And I got to see their tea ceremony garden with the house, even though no tea ceremony was being held that day. Your details about the journey to the tea house reminded me of that.
And when in Japan over a year ago, the purifying with the water basin and dipper is an experience we did a number of times when we visited some places.
So all this is to say I appreciated your taking the time to go through all the detail, to be willing take an entire issue to slow down story and action to these simple actions of beauty.

However, I am also amused by how passionate Todd Shogun is about Tomoe and this wedding situation. Very, very creatively passionate!!
Love all your story ideas.

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Sun May 07, 2006 20:11 -0700

Kim you ain't seen nothing yet. I've been spending the last week on my train rides to work analyzing #88-93. It's seriously the best work Stan has done yet. I know most of you all can see what's going on between the panels, but it' really cool actually studying Usagi and Tomoe's chemistry and interactions. Keep in mind I've been waiting over 20 years to see such a plotline to unfold...and it was worth the wait.

I'll have to disagre with estee though...I do think Usagi'll be back in time for the marriage thing. There's obviously a lot more than meets the eye with Lord Ito and the Kojima. I'm only going off of what Stan said.. he's planted a seed.