Anime
Kaze no Stigma - 24 (Finale)
Kaze no Stigma Episode 24 – The Ones Protected by the Wind
Kaze no Stigma finally comes to a close (though not quite) with this episode, where Wernhard’s plans behind Pandemonium is finally revealed. With the seed players killed in the previous episode, their souls become sacrifice for the summoning of this great demon which Kazuma, Ayano and Ren have to face. This final battle, together with other revelations (and possibility for a second season?) as well as the much awaited Kazuma x Ayano moment (for K x A supporters), and more in this final episode!
(I seem to have gone into trigger happy mode with this one… so many screenies @__@)
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Summary
The episode starts with a flashback of the Tsuoi Rin tragedy. Kazuma arrives on the scene with the sacrificial ritual already being instigated and was still too powerless to stand a chance against the head of the Almagest Arwin Leszars and save his beloved. “Let me show both you and your sweetheart the meaning of fear and desperation”, exclaims Arwin with all joy and pride as he continues on with the ritual without remorse. Tears well up from Tsuoi Rin’s eyes and screams Kazuma’s name as though her very soul is being torn apart, while Kazuma can’t do anything but screams in despair.
Back to the present, Kazuma, Ayano and Ren has infiltrated into the Pandemonium. Ayano asks Kazuma if he has any plans in mind, specifically how they’re going to fight Lapis, worried that he won’t be able to fight against her who used to be her lover (in the person of Tsuoi Rin). Before Ayano can finish what she was saying, Kazuma punches the wall, brushing dangerously close to her face, instantly silencing her. Kazuma retorts that there’s no way the impostor Lapis can be Tsuoi Rin. Lapis might look like her, but she doesn’t have her heart. And that’s what sets them apart. Tsuoi Rin has died right in front of his eyes, and he himself should know that better than anyone else. Ayano becomes filled with sadness as she hears all this from Kazuma, and refuses to say any further.
They head inside the gates and get greeted by Yukari and Nanase who are both in their cosplay-looking costumes (Yukari in her meido outfit, and Nanase in her S&M-like outfit). Both of them are safe and sound but are still not in their conscious selves. Lapis comes into the picture, welcoming them to Pandemonium in behalf of Wernhard who’s already gone back to his country now that his mission has been fulfilled. Ayano demands her to hand over Yukari and Nanase, to which Lapis agrees without a fight, since both these girls together with Utsumi were simply used as decoys to lure Kazuma.
Yukari and Nanase steps in front, explaining the meaning behind this Pandemonium project (as well as Wernhard’s plans in general). Pandemonium was built to create a breed of “homo superiors”, a cross between human and demon. The seed players were used as guinea pigs for researching on how to make this fusion possible. Lapis on the other hand was sent by Wernhard to beget Kazuma’s anguish and despair. Kazuma doesn’t find this surprising since he knows well that Almagest is a cult which delights itself in these kinds of crimes for pleasure.
Lapis then finishes the rest of her task as she kills off Utsumi with a swing of her sword, whose soul is the last one necessary for summoning the great Demon Lord Belial (with the soul of the other seed players already fused into it earlier). “What do you think of this “scenario of despair” master has written?”, Lapis asks with a wicked smirk on her face. Ren can’t believe how Lapis will do all these wickedness when in fact she used to be Tsuoi Rin. Lapis becomes filled with sadness as she tells them that she wants to have a heart, knowing well that she’s simply a doll made out of the last memories of Tsuoi Rin (Kazuma quivers upon hearing this). Unfortunately, Wernhard corrupted her mind into thinking that getting amused over cruelty to others will fill her emotions and allow her to attain this.
Ayano can’t help but be disgusted of this twisted thinking. Lapis continues on, telling Kazuma that even her feelings of attachment (being drawn) to him is simply but a feeling given her (and not her own). “I want to be welled up with [my own] genuine consciousness and feelings. I want to be human, for me to become Tsuoi Rin” Kazuma refuses to hear any more of this insolent talk and was about to kill her with his wind, when she suddenly blurts out “Are you going to kill me again, Kazuma?”, distracting him in his attack. With Kazuma daved out for a moment, Ayano takes his place and faces Tsuoi Rin in battle, determined to defeat her and put a stop to the summoning as well.
Yukari and Nanase shields Lapis from Ayano, and Kazuma takes his turn to attack Lapis while saving both Yukari and Nanase in the process. After an exchange of blows with their sword, Lapis changes her tactic as she creates this illusion of crystal while concealing her real self in one of them. Kazuma uses his wind to find out where Lapis is, and was about to deliver the final blow to finish her off when the grounds start to shake as the summoning of Belial has finally began.
Lapis makes her escape, “assuring” them Belial’s powers are far incomplete to be able to bring the entire world into destruction, since the number of people sacrificed for summoning this demon doesn’t suffice for that. At this rate however, Belial is powerful enough to destroy the entire Tokyo, and Lapis expresses her anticipation of seeing Kazuma in anguish in the midst of his devastation. Kazuma ignores what Lapis said and soars through the sky with his wind, taking Ayano and Ren with him. They look down on the summoning ground brimming with enormous amount of power as Belial crawls out of the depths of the underworld. Despite knowing that his contractor powers combined with the Kannagi’s Divine Flame can’t match up to this demon, Kazuma looks at this as a challenge and exclaims with all confidence “Looks like we’re left with no choice but to fight it head on!”
Kazuma advises Ren and Ayano not to think about anything else but focusing all their energies in a single decisive blow against the enemy, determined to go all out in this battle with a kamikaze attack. Ayano takes one last look at Kazuma’s face, asking him for any last words he has for her. Kazuma smiles back and tells her to make him taste some of her own cooking some time, to which Ayano refuses. Belial rises out from the depths of the underworld and Kazuma calls out on the Wind Spirit as he was once again reminded of how Tsuoi Rin was devoured by youmas that time. Kazuma once again feels regret over what happened and thinks “If only I had this power back then”. But Kazuma himself knows well that this is but an impossible wish in his past, and what really matters now is the present, with the people he has to protect.
A spiral fusion is formed with Kazuma’s azure wind, Ren’s golden flame and Ayano’s crimson flame as they combine their powers to defeat Belial. Maintaining this equilibrium of powers as they face the enemy with a head-on clash, they manage to defeat the great demon and save the city from obliteration. The three elemental users survive the attack and the entire city of Tokyo sees the gleam of hope as a new day begins. Wernhard greets them for this victory, exclaiming his surprise that they were able to achieve this feat. “Stopping Belial from being fully summoned is humanly impossible”, he says. Wernhard still hasn’t left the country as Lapis said, as he doesn’t want to miss this spectacular scene.
Kazuma, Ayano, and Ren have already exhausted all their powers with that attack against Belial, and there’s no way they can win against Wernhard at this state. Wernhard assures them that he’s not going to fight them because he’s a wimp, and won’t head on to battle unless he’s sure of his victory. Kazuma then sees Genma within the premise, the enemy Wernhard is referring to. “The power of the Kannagis is indeed terrifying”, says Wernhard, who finally bids them farewell, filled with confidence that they’ll meet again in the near future. Before leaving, Kazuma demands him to reveal what that last memory of Tsuoi Rin was, the last message she wanted to convey to him that time. Lapis then divulges this information as she tells him “I want to kill you”, which came as a great shock to Kazuma.
Ayano leans close to comfort him, and Kazuma embraces her tight. They head home to the Kannagi house, where Ayano and Kazuma spends some private time alone by the pond. Ayano tells Kazuma that what Lapis said must be just a lie, since there’s no way Tsuoi Rin could’ve thought of wanting to kill him. Kazuma however thinks that it’s likely to be true, since it’s natural for the girl she wasn’t able to save to bear a grudge against him. Ayano thinks that it can’t be helped, since his powers still weren’t awakened that time. Kazuma confides that his powers were awakened after the tragedy with Tsuoi Rin, which Ayano finds to be an orthodox pattern. “But nothing happened after Tsuoi Rin was killed. I felt so miserable that I couldn’t even laugh”, says Kazuma.
Ayano looks at Kazuma and can’t help but worry at how he seems to be thinking about getting himself killed by Lapis. “Don’t think about getting yourself killed by Lapis! You’re here now. Didn’t you choose the present over the past?!”, exclaims Ayano, to which Kazuma says there’s nothing for her to worry about. He decided to embrace everything in his past, and face both the present and the future that lies ahead, protecting her and everyone else. Contrary to the reaction he’s expecting, Kazuma earns a slap from Ayano. “I never asked you to protect me! I don’t know what happened in your past, but don’t you feel any hurt or pain?! Can’t you at least depend on me during that time (of pain and sadness)?! Don’t carry all the burden by yourself! Am I that unreliable?! “Just what am (exactly) I in your life?! Just an excess luggage? A drag?! Someone who hides behind your back to avoid being a hindrance (in battle)? Then after the battle is over, gets an embrace or a kiss (in return) as a sign of thanks?! Stop kidding me!! I can help you out (even a little) you know!”, Ayano tells Kazuma as she pours out all her feelings and tears well up in her eyes.
Kazuma was too dumbfounded by Ayano’s words to say anything, and a gust of wind blows whisks Ayano’s hair. Kazuma draws near, caresses her hair and gently kisses it, sending a tingle down to her spine as Ayano’s face becomes painted with a furious blush. After a still moment of bliss, Kazuma finally lets loose Ayano’s hair. He smiles and tells her, “Well, I leave things to you, partner” as he gives Ayano a pat on her butt. Innocent as she is, Ayano is still not used to this kind of gesture and jumps off to the pond in surprise. Ayano fumes with anger and takes out her Enraiha, ready to attack Kazuma at any moment. Kazuma tries to negotiate on discussing the issue in a peaceful manner, but Ayano refuses to listen and starts attacking him.
Ayano and Kazuma revert back to their battle mode, with Kazuma running away from all of her attacks. Soushu comments on how troublesome his daughter is, and apologizes to his guest for making them see such a shameful sight. Yukari and Nanase assures Soushu that they’re already used to this usual scene, and Kirika comments on how Kazuma is going to have a hard time dealing with this. Ren could simply sigh as he sees how Ayano and Kazuma are once again back in their childish selves. Ayano’s chase continues and finally lunges a final blow with her Enraiha.
- the end -
Thoughts
Being the final episode of Kaze no Stigma, it turned out to be quite an anticlimactic ending because the final battle we see with the hailed great demon Belial turned out to be such an easy boss which our heroes and heroine defeats in a whim. The fact that the final boss (Wernhard) is still at large also contributes to that. I don’t really have much complaint against this because things ended similar to the novel, but I’m thinking it would’ve been better if the anime improvised this final episode and ended it with a closed (or a more closed) finale. Intense and full of action as this last episode has been, having Kazuma, Ayano and Ren have a face off against Wernhard would’ve been much more exciting than seeing them defeat a great demon lord (despite the fact that this demon is much more powerful than Wernhard). It wasn’t much of a battle, since we’ve only seen the wicked claws of Belial and the next thing we know, he’s been obliterated.
The battle between Kazuma and Ayano in the last episode was actually even more exciting than the battle in this one, in my opinion. And it’s making me think about what would happen if they shifted some of the events here. Like… having Kazuma first kill off Wernhard before Ayano faces him. That perhaps after killing this boss, he’s still in his berserk state and Ayano knocks him down the way she did in the previous episode… I’m thinking that could’ve made this episode more worthy of being the “finale”…
But then it’s also good to have left things as it is, if they have any plans on making a second second of the series once the author gets well and gets back into writing the main arc again. If they never intended to make a sequel of this, I was thinking it would’ve been better if they already killed off Wernhard, or at least made them have a deathmatch / face off before leaving the country. Wernhard turned out such a lame villain, in my opinion… a twisted lame villain, together with the entire Almagest.
As for Lapis, I was thinking she’ll become a 3d character as she gets to have a heart which will allow her to realize her own consciousness, and have her go against Wernhard as she fights for what she believes in (principles that are right and just). When I saw the picture in the novel with Lapis looking all sad, I really thought she decided to break away from the clutches of her master and find her own identity, but looks like it wasn’t so. She has become twisted like her master (looks like that’s what became of the ‘heart’ she was wishing for), and I don’t think she’ll realize what it really means to become “human” (not become an insane person like her master) unless some events will lead her to realizing that humanity (in the far future, if the author has plans of making this happen).
The revelation of Tsuoi Rin’s last memory came as a really unexpected surprise for me. There’s nothing mentioned in the novel to ascertain if Tsuoi Rin really thought of killing Kazuma that time and we don’t really know enough about Tsuoi Rin at this point to dismiss this possibility. I do believe that it’s possible for someone as saintly (?) as Tsuoi Rin (or so how she was portrayed) to have this kind of evil thoughts, considering the farfetched promise she made with Kazuma. Quoting myself in the comment I made in my thoughts about that promise between Tsuoi Rin and Kazuma, “…the promise Tsuoi Rin asked Kazuma will certainly result to hurt and pain sooner or later. I mean, the girl asks the guy to promise to protect her no matter what. If the guy fails to do so, the girl will most likely feel betrayed (in a way), because the guy wasn’t able to fulfill his promise.”
Seeing Tsuoi Rin being sacrificed for Arwin’s selfish motives is really such a heart-wrenching scene. Kazuma was helpless in the state he was in, and we can see how remembering what happened to the girl he loved can bring him into his berserk mode. But nevertheless, I would’ve really admired Tsuoi Rin if she was still able to smile at Kazuma despite the pain she was going through, and tell him not to blame himself for what happened to her. (But it looks like Tsuoi Rin is but normal, that the anguish she felt that time was indeed unbearable)
Given that Tsuoi Rin really did feel betrayed during that time, it’s most likely certain that she was filled with thoughts of either, wanting Kazuma to die with her, or kill Kazuma for his inability to save her. But these thoughts would most likely be a spur of the moment kind of thing… thoughts which plague people at the depths of despair. What’s done is done and Tsuoi Rin has died. The fact remains that she never did anything to take away much of the guilt from Kazuma, in the flesh or in spirit.
Ayumi was much more admirable, because even at that dying moment, she left Ren with a message of hope, to become happy even if she wasn’t around anymore. Ayumi’s feelings was so strong that Ren felt her presence even after her death (during his graduation, where he saw her like an angel). But of course, Kaze no Stigma wasn’t written that way, and I’m just happy to see Kazuma paired up with Ayano who’s far more strong-willed and can handle herself more than Tsuoi Rin.
As I’ve also mentioned in the previous episodes, Tsuoi Rin inevitably played a great role in moulding Kazuma as he is. But given the tragedy which happened, I’m just thankful that now there’s Ayano for Kazuma. I really like the brief and serious moments of sweetness they have, seeing Ayano comfort Kazuma that time Lapis revealed that info about Tsuoi Rin’s last memory…
Ayano was indeed admirable with what she told Kazuma in that private moment they had in the Kannagi residence. In contrast to Tsuoi Rin who asked Kazuma to protect her, here comes Ayano who tells Kazuma that she doesn’t want to be protected. It’s not a matter of pride, but rather that she doesn’t want to become a burden to Kazuma. She wants him to rely on her, for her to be of help to him. I like how the novel puts what Ayano told Kazuma, “…I’m not telling you to entrust me with your problems… but I want to be of help (even a little)”, showing how she herself knows that she’s still lacking in many aspects. More of Kazuma’s thoughts are unveiled in the novel (like usual), where minutes pass after Ayano confides all her sentiments to Kazuma and he can just stare at her.
Kazuma knows well what Ayano meant with what she told him. That she’s not weak… that she’s not some weak princess (damsel in distress) who needs a knight to devote his life for her (unlike Tsuoi Rin). And this is what really sets Ayano and Tsuoi Rin apart, in my opinion. At the start of their conversation in that pond, Kazuma actually pondered on how he should reply to Ayano who was consoling him about Tsuoi Rin (and what Lapis told him). He thinks for a while… if he should act all sarcastic and tell her, “Why are you comforting me all of a sudden? You must be coming down with a flu”, or if he should be honest (and sweet) and tell her “Thank you. I’m happy that you care about me” and make her blush, or that perhaps he should lightly kiss her just to make her mad (^^;;; ). In the end, Kazuma’s reaction was none of the above, and it’s what we saw in the anime. It’s great to know that Kazuma pondered on how to react to Ayano… the thank you reply he thought about especially shows that it’s some sentiment he had that time… 
I think this also ascertains the fact that he enjoys seeing all these reactions of Ayano, tsundere as she is. He knows how Ayano’s going to react to him, and he just does things to make her react the way he wants, at any given time (poor Ayano ^^:;). Ayano just catches him in surprise at times, when she becomes all sweet:3
Now with regards to that hair kissing scene, there’s actually a deeper meaning behind it. In the novel, it was mentioned that when Ayano’s hair swayed towards Kazuma, it was as though it was reaching out to his heart (in contrast to her body which is ‘stiff’ and has its back turned against Kazuma). Now when Kazuma caresses her hair and kisses it, I believe it’s a symbol that he accepts her feelings, and reciprocates it ^-^
Some stuff in this Kazuma x Ayano scene went slightly different in the novel, which I’ll just be discussing in my deep frying. But what I was hoping the anime included was that comment by Soushu regarding Ayano and Kazuma’s fight. In contrast to what was shown in the anime, Soushu actually cheered Ayano to give her all and kick Kazuma’s ass, as he tells her “Ayano, don’t worry about the house (I’ll protect it), so give it all you’ve got” 
Kazuma can’t believe how he would say this and could no longer react any further as Ayano lunges her attack 
That would’ve been a more amusing ending.
Afterthoughts
Overall, I found this series a rather enjoyable one, despite its flaws and lack of excitement in some other aspects of the show. Up until now, I still think that what made me stick to this anime and have interest in this series is the Kazuma and Ayano antics which will forever be immortalized in my the minds of people who have grown to love this pairing. Despite its WTFudge ending, and many plotholes and untold stories behind events in the past (the events tying Kazuma and/or Tsuoi Rin to the Almagest, how Kazuma got his Contractor powers, etc), I still liked it. Even from the start, it wasn’t really made out to become a great epic kind of story… but simply for fun and guilty pleasure (at times). The principles of “power” and “protection” it conveyed to the audience, cheesy as it might seem, really got me into thinking about these things. We’ve seen the characters grow throughout the series, especially Ren and Ayano (if you read the novel, or the deep fryings). Yukari and Nanase already played quite a vital role in making this series entertaining, as they’re usually the comic relief and source of amusement :p
Some people might have been disappointed at how Kazuma’s character turned out to be, but I just like to say that even at the start, he wasn’t the almighty undefeatable Yagami Kazuma he was portrayed in the anime. I mean, even at the start of the novel, despite how strong and invincible he is, the readers get to see this side of Kazuma who’s confused and doesn’t really have any direction in his life. As such, I don’t think he became out of character. When he came back to Japan, he was still a lost sheep. He just hid all this and concealed it with this ‘mask of invincibility’ (but the readers of the novel had the opportunity to see through this mask), and all it took was a Lapis to make him once again remember all these bitter memories and come face to face with this past. Others might not agree with me on this, but I’m glad to see how Kazuma was able to become more humane than he was made out to be at the start.
And now for some last words… I really hope you enjoyed this adventure with KnS as much as I did ^-^ I think this is a great time to express my thanks to all people who faithfully followed through this blogging adventure of mine, as well as the deep frying adventure. it was such a fun ride Thanks for sticking up with me, despite the backlogs I had :p Kaze no Stigma is what made me get into reading novels (which I thought I still won’t be able to do), and it’s because of this (and more) reason that it has a sentimental value in my life. Ok, too much emo…
Hope I’ll still provide more KnS fun with the manga and the novel, now that the anime has been wrapped up~ Till next time!
filed under: Discussion
16 comments for “Kaze no Stigma - 24 (Finale)”
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And that’s a series. In the end this was probably the series I most enjoyed watching. Sure there will be many that had a greater popularity, budget, compitent people working behind it…But this was fun to watch and I enjoyed the characters. Have to hand out another big thanks for the deep frying etc which helped to round out the series and make it better.
Gotta love the Sousho. I could so see him saying something like that. After all since he can probably see his hopes were finally coming through with Ayano and Kazuma what’s a little destruction with that in his mind.
The Ayano and Kazuma interactions will always be a highlight. That guy has her completely figured out and can just push the right buttons to get the response he wants. Though she can surprise him and it was always nice seeing them together.
A good series that I’ll miss. But having info with the manga and novels could make that easier ;).
usagijen, thank you so much, for this wonderful ride.
I really hope that you could keep on with the manga and novel spoilers. I looked forward to your deep frying more than the actual anime - most of the time, I was content to read summaries of the episodes, but because of your deep frying, I really wish I could read the books myself.
There are some people who want Kazuma to get together with Lapis, but I don’t. It’s not because I like Ayano better than Rin. I don’t know enough about Rin to like or dislike her, or even care about her. I don’t want Kazuma to hook up with Lapis because Lapis isn’t Rin, even if they share a few memories (and I was happy that Kazuma apparently shared my point of view). Rin unwillingly died in a brutal way to make way for Lapis, so to me, Kazuma’s hooking up with Lapis would be like shitting on Rin’s grave. It would be an insult to Rin to hook up with Lapis.
Also, I feel that even if Lapis pulled a Pinocchio and became a “real” girl, she wouldn’t be Rin; she’d be…herself, who ever that is. I think the Ayumi arc was supposed to prepare the audience for that - that just because one is cloned from a person, the clone doesn’t really become that person.
I read on animesuki forum that in one of the short stories, Ayano had a marriage meeting, and that Kazuma interrupted it. I’m not sure if you were the one who gave that novel spoiler, but if you’ve read it, could you please do a summary on that story? I’ve been curious as to just how Kazuma handled that marriage meeting, and you’re my only source of in-depth novel summaries and spoilers. =)
But even if you choose not to keep on with the novel and manga spoilers, I’m grateful for every summary and deep-frying you’ve done. Thanks!
One last comment on the “Lapis thinking she’d be Rin if she (Lapis) feels something on her own” issue - I think that that is what Lapis believes, but that belief wouldn’t necessarily come true. In fact, from the other things she said about wanting a feeling or memory that didn’t come from Rin, Lapis actually wants to be her own person; she just doesn’t realize it. She thinks that that being human would mean being Rin (maybe because Wernhard told her this). However, if she has emotions that come from herself and not from Rin, that would mean that she really isn’t Rin - she’s herself, Lapis, only more human. Getting emotions that don’t come from Rin would mean being independent from what’s leftover of Rin. If Lapis was really Rin and really wanted to be Rin, she’d embrace Rin’s memories; she wouldn’t try so hard to have something of her own; she wouldn’t try to separate herself from Rin’s memories.
You know, it made sense in my head but not in this comment, so I’ll shut up now.
mmmmm!! you know “quittinganimesoon” i do agree with you, i do think that lapis want to be her own persona too, and not a clone of rin just like mayumi. She might retain some of rin memories, but that doesn’t mean she wants to be her, that why i think the author warm us to that possibly before with mayumi, but that just my token on the matter, however i do think that all clones want to be themselves instead of just copies, if she were to become rin copy, then her sacrificed would be meaningless, i would be wtf, so what was the point? if that the case kazuma would have persuaded the clone instead of coming back to japan, or for that matter he would have followed Vernhart and lapis, he knows rin is not coming back, the dead stays dead, give lapis her credit. And speaking of kazuma and sick and tired of people saying that he was a lamb exiled from the clan of bulls, he was just not talented in side the kannagi, out side (talking in his high school years) he was a pimp he had a girlfriend, which he only used, he was on top of his classes, athetic, a superb martial artist and on top of that goodlooking in other words the guy that you would authomaticaly you would hate and envy at the same time, cause the chick that you like just has eyes for him, here comes my second point, he might not have been kannagi material but in other aspects he was top, and in the normal world, that must have been what attracted rin first besides his personality. Point made that goes for ayano’s critics who thinks that she went for the power, if you actually believe that girls will go for losers, man you probably had been watching to much harem animes with completely losers as the main lead, a girl will always go for winning features consciously or uncosciouly it’s part of our female psyche, blame evolution LMAO, no joke O_o, actually i have to give props to ayano, she has to stand his crap, worst sides and on top of that he behaves sometimes like he is some kind of godsend T_T.
I loved this series..I really hope theres a second season even if they do it like fumoffu which is a comedy i would just love to see kazuma and ayano again…hope u can keep up blogging on the manga even if the anime is over
Sorry!!! usagijen that was a long post, and forgive me if i don’t make any sense lol, I might not have been posting, but i was fatefully checking your blog every single day of my existence :3, and it make so happy that you pick up the manga, i am to waiting for my copy even if don’t know japanese ;_;, oh well images speack louder than words hehehe *.*, i hope usagijen that you continue blogging this series, i mean the rest of the novels and manga i’m dying to know moar @_@. I’m such a fangirl lol, love KxA to me their connection is so refreshing from the tipical shonnen or shoujo, you have done such a wonderfull job, if it wasn’t for you poor ayano would have been hated for thing that she didn’t said or do and would not have been reconize for the ones that she did and said. She should recive alot more credit that what some people give her T_T, cause the buchering that gonzo did is unforgiven especially to her character, seriously you just have to compare the first ep of the anime to that of the novel to see the big difference, that really upset me alot almost to the point of giving up the series and boycott gonzo X_X but thanks to you i didn’t, KxA is one of my top 5 favorites pairs of my life time, i tell you my standarts for pairs are really high, and oh boy!! you make me a dope for this one LMAO, give me my dope!!!!!!!!!! @o@ A.K.A=AxK(just kidding lol) if you have by any chances, in your super tight schedual ;_; could you share moar love for this novels with us??? you can take your time, i will be your fatefull follower in which ever part of the net you are, usagijen-sensei :3
So, the anime covers all 6 of the novels right? I really hope the writer does more as it just seems too many things are left open. And the ending to the anime does seem to point to a season 2 also. Is there any new info about the novels?
hmm correct me if i’m wrong but i thought that the anime ended around novel no.5 ish or something like that
@FlareKnight: It seems that most of the characters of KnS grew on me… especially Ayano and Kazuma (like that’s not obvious enough XD) I will certainly miss this series… but then I can always read the manga and novels, and hopefully have the time to share that blessing :p
@tigerlily: aww… thank you for sticking up with me and my blogging as well
and yes, you’re exactly right in the “initial attraction” argument you gave. I’ve also given some insights regarding what probably made Tsuoi Rin drawn to Kazuma before… the fact that she saw something deeper beneath his mask of sarcasm and scornfulness. And of course, his looks and other strong points.
Much credit goes to Ayano for being able to stand the worse Kazuma who became more cynical, sarcastic, etc.
LOL@ being my follower
Rest assured that I’ll be giving tidbits about the manga and novels from time to time. The drive to want to share it is certainly within me… I just have to find the time to do so
@quittinganimesoon: hehe… I’m glad to see I got you into [wanting to] read the books :3 It’s a good read, in my opinion… way better (though darker) than the anime.
Wow… that’s some great character analysis you gave to Lapis. I’ve never thought much about the co-relation of the the Ayumi arc with Lapis until you mentioned that. And yes, Lapis will never be Tsuoi Rin because they’re just… different entities. She only has a fragment of Tsuoi Rin’s memories, and that’s it. She’s a completely different person, who gets to develop her own feelings and insights / principles, now twisted by Wernhard. (don’t worry cause you’ve made your point clear XD)
@melody: I too am hoping for a fumoffu-like KnS, but hopefully… with a different studio >.>
@GP: the anime only covered 5 volumes, since the 6th volume focuses on another arc. volume 6 introduces another clan in the KnS world, and the arc is complete in volume 6. I haven’t seen much info about the continuation of the main arc yet… particularly the re-appearance of Wernhard and Lapis… sigh =__=
@FLiPMaStAZ: and yup, you’re right (as I also mentioned in my reply to GP) :p
I see, so the 6th one is standalone. Ok, It’s been a long time, I hope there is more work done on the main story since it has to fill in all the gaps and unfinished stuff.
First of all, thanks a lot for all your work. I can’t fully imagine what it took to write this all, blogs&deep frying. Thanks a lot again, for telling so much about the novels (that I dream to read, yet another reason to improve my japanese… I have a dream of learning japanese, but right now I just know hiragana & some common phrases
) and making me think about lots of things. I also like to look thoughtfully on series, like what little things meant, and what authors whanted t say with that… But I couldn’t possibly find out this much without your blog. I just found it (so bad that it’s so late, but better late than never, right?) and I’m very much impressed)
And about the series, I found them accidently, really, just was checking smb’s facorites on Veoh, and found this series, ad decided to take a look. “Take a took” turned out to be throwing away all what I was watching at that moment, and watching only that till I came to ep.20, the last one at that time. And now I think about it, it’s my second favorite series of all the time (first would probably always be FullMetal Alchemist).
I like it a lot because in some way it’s the golden mean between “serious” anime I was watching later, with deep meaning, but which is quite difficult to watch emotionly and easy-going anime. I just can help thinking that when Ayano summons Enraiha, it looks just like how Sailor Moon summons her stuff, or rode, etc. Just better graphic
And the series, they are my favorite type especially because great diologues between Kazuma & Ayano (antics you mention). Sometimes I even had a feeling that all the fights and other things are just the serery for that antics 
But around ep. 20 & 21 I suddenly understood how thier world isn’t exactly at easy place. Because I couldn’t help feeling that Kazuma has every reason in the world to be mad, that Tsuo Rin in the past might actually be worth more than evrything he has in the present. I got over in, though. At that time just saying that some people were in even worse situations, so he hasn’t got a right to act that way)
And what I can say now about Tsuo Rin, Kazuma’s personality & Ayano (I wonder if the author will agree with me, I’m sorry if it was already written). I think that Tsuo Rin was (and is) so important to Kazuma, because she was probably the first person to see him as he was. Not as a bad fire mage, ot cool wind mage, but just as a person. All his life in his “great” family curcled around power, at that point, the lack of it. And Tsuo Rin just took him as he was, looked at him personality. (Btw, I think the fact Kazuma tried that much to save Masao has the same source - she was another person that was able to look at him not as a mage, but as a person, as a relative, as part of the family. the fact that he remembered it that clearly means that it was really important to him at that time - if I’m right, I bow to the author, for the logical storyline).
At that point, he was completely happy and didn’t care about power (I still think it was a great thing). But - the destiny had other ideas. And so he was returned to the power-judged world, although on the opposite position, being a great mage. But it didn’t bring him any bit of happiness. (That’s the only thing I find in common for two sorts of Contractors - in KnS and Darker than Black - Contracts doesn’t bring any happiness.) Returning to Japan and in a way to his family, he was judged there (at least it seems that way) again just as a mage - now a strong one. But it seems like only Ren was happy to see his brother returning (that’s why I think that if we’re talking about the best (in the meaning of the personality) character there - it’s Ren). And though the series it’s clear that in some way he was always alone. There wasn’t a person that could understand him and support him (and everybody need support after all), although was mostly because he didn’t want that person to appear (can’t help remembering the line from the ending - “With your blade of wind you keep others from coming close”). And when he was faced with his past, it was his loneliness that was the reason he couldn’t hold himself together. He just couldn’t bear it and, truthly told, ran from his problems. And from Tsuo Rin. Because I think that his beserk state was the result of his trying to forget Tsuo Rin, to forget his unfulfilled promise. Because if he didn’t forget her, he could become what he was. Tsuo Rin also reminded him of his promise, and it was remembering her and that promise that drawn him back.
And though this arc, when there were moments when he let his “cool guy” guard down (like the moment after he heard what were the last thoughts Tsuo Rin had) he slowly opens himself to Ayano. And I think some part of him want this to happen. He wants to find a person to understand him. He’s truly just like his dad, and he knows it, and he knows that he won’t ever say anything like that to Ayano or anybody else. But he wants someone to understand how he feels deep down. And for that, I must say, Ayano is a perfect candidate. She’s carefree just anough not to be foolish (but I think that her carelessness is one of the things Kazuma needs), and she can feel person’s feelings just anough not to be too noisy.
I’m not even sure who’s changing who more)
For some time I actually thought that Ayano’s “interest” in Kazuma comes from his powers mostly and that’s why she totally loose to Tsuo Rin. Now I wonder how could I… It’s just not Ayano’s kind of personality, not at all. She couldn’t like person just because he’s strong in the means of power. But she can like a person strong in means of the personality (I’m mostly rewriting what was said in the blog for ep.23). So she’s not worse than Tsuo Rin (and counting that she’s alive, she’s even winning). But even more, I totally agree with the statement that Ayano’s better than Tsuo Rin cause she doesn’t need or want her prince on the white horse that will protect her, she want to be fighting alongside that prince))))) She has a stronger personality. And I have a feeling that the bond formed slowly though doing many things and fighting many fights together will proove to be deeper than one formed quickly on impression. Or I just wish it to be)
If you know some “Omokage” from Shaman King, there’s this lyrics:
Rather than murmuring “I love you”
Surely my heart shakes
Rather than telling me “I’m in love”
The bonds become deep
For some reason I think it can be used here.
Also, there’s a couple of ritoric questions I think about. For example, what will happen to Ren in the future? Cause right now he seems absolutely flawless to me in means of the personality… But if we look at his brother & dad, they’re… quite different. And I have a bad feeling that they used to be like him - at some point, but they changed. I wonder if that gonna happen with Ren. On the other hand, story with Ayumi didn’t change him, which prooves him different from his brother, at least at this point.
Btw, about Tsuo Rin again. I think that it’s quite probable for her to think the way Lapis said in the end. I think what the author tried to tell was that everybody’s human. And it’s understandible for human to feel this way in the situation she was. But I not just doubt, but simply doesn’t belive she could stay with this opinion if given time to think about it.
(And Ayumi - it was stated, she was an angel in some way)
And about the ending of the ep. I liked it a lot, really. I like the endings where it’s shown that despite the world being near to coming crumbling down (or Tokyo,whatever
) characters still can enjoy themselves and laugh. Btw, it’s another think I love about the series - though characters always state that they don’t care or even hate each other (take Kazuma & his dad), it’s quite clear that it’s not true at all. Somewhere deep the invisible wall exists, and in real danger they forget al that talk and support each other. Genma said he’s going to kill his idiot son but (as it’s clearly stated in the novel) he just tested Ayano. I’m more than sure that he came to help not just Ayano & Ren, but Kazuma as well. Though he never admits it.
And the picture of Kazuma running from Ayano (and it’s clear they both enjoy it a lot… Well, it’s abvious for Ayano, and Kazuma, if he didn;t enjoy it, could have stopped it long ago), and others sitting calmly (and plus in the novel, Soushu supported Ayano in her “chase”) make you feel relieved. It’s one big happy family with lots of issues. And what else you need?)
I’m truly sorry for writing this much of the useless thoughts, but I just saw last ep today and I totally needed to write my impression of the whole series. And if somebody actually read it till the end, thanks a lot) And I would be more than happy to see that do you think about this, esp. about Ren and other questions.
And thanks again for the adventure though KnS)
I am still unsatisfied with the ending. |3
My opinions in just a few words: badass guy still alive + conflicts still unsettled + Kazuma calls Ayano partner with the novellistic trademark of slapping her butt (yes I remember he does that according to an AnimeBlogger page) + blah blah blah = MUST DEMAND FOR A SECOND SEASON.
so that says it all |333
(ack! I can’t believe I neglected replying to comments again @__@ *spanks herself *)
@GP: yeah… it’s been like two years since we last heard of the author >__< I'm hoping he can get back to work on the series again. Much love for KnS >__< @Eleonore Magilinon: wow... that's like, a post
but I'm glad you were able to gain this much insight with the help of my [sometimes random] thoughts 
It's quite an established fact even before, that Ayano's Enraiha summoning sequence is really lame... generic scene mixed with the wooden-stick-looking-"sword"
But yeah... disregarding all these animation flaws and focusing on th serious tone of the series, there really is much we can gain insights from (inconsistent as they might have been shown at times).
With regards to Kazuma's berserk mode, Kirika has also mentioned that he's been hiding all that sadness and rage, even after he killed Arwin for revenge. As you have also said, his berserk mode is a result of him wanting to run away from all these problems... or rather, the burst of emotions triggered by remembering his painful past. Showing how he still hasn't been able to fully come into terms with Tsuoi Rin's death that time (until Ayano knocked some sense into him)
I believe Kazuma likes both Ayano's serious side (when she knocks some sense into him with some rather powerful words), and her naive (aka easy to tease) side
I enjoy both sides as well ^-^ It's really fun to see how Kazuma responds to Ayano's actions, similar to how Ayano responds to Kazuma as well :3
About Ren... I also think he's a rather "perfect" character at this point, since much of his flaws attributed to his innocence are pretty much resolved in an idealistic manner as well. If there will ever be changes in Ren, it would be him learning about some harsh realities he has to accept and embrace... like some questioning with regards to these idealistic principles he has at this point.
And don't worry much about the lengthiness (although readers might really find it.. @__@ hehehe... it is a "meaty" and insightful read, especially for someone who has grown to like this series).
@Do-I-Need-A-Name: I'm also unsatisfied with the ending, because of the tons of questions left to be answered. But I guess the fact that I already knew it was going to turn out this way (knowing the novel ended the same way) made me accept the ending as it is. And I guess the fact that I saw the Kazuma x Ayano antic I've been wanting to see made me forgive the ending somehow.
Before we demand for a second season however, let us all hope that the author will recover and get back >__<
i for one am not satisfied with the ending though it was an interesting animie. THERE HAS TO BE A SECOND SEASON!!!!!!
@Nothing: almost everyone are disappointed with the lack of closure to this anime. Though, I think I’ll start demanding for a second season once the author gets back… or I’ll really go wild as well.
I’m happy enough at this point, that there are the side story novels to fill the craving for more Ayano x Kazuma… and more side stories yet to be published in its tankoubon form.