fruitsbasketfeelings:

Analysis of Shigure cuddling Akito - Requested by anonymous

[Potential Spoiler Commentary] While Shigure didn’t grow up to be the warmest and most caring individual, he was once a child with a child’s innocence. All of the Zodiac feel a connection with Akito, no matter what insults or abuse is thrown their way. They need Akito. Shigure might not have the purest intentions most of the time and has a major manipulative streak, but I do think a younger Shigure (as well as the other Zodiac children who are older than Akito) would have experienced tender moments of cuddling and innocence like most children. The Zodiac children who came after Akito started to grow up and experience the majority of Ren’s abuse might not have had the opportunity for such moments.

-C & J

fruitsbasketfeelings:

Analysis of Akito and Shigure’s “kindness” - Requested by anonymous

[Potential Spoiler Commentary] Up until this point in the story, we could only guess at the past relationship between Shigure and Akito. There had been clues, but not anything definite. Now we can see that there was something more than what Akito had shared with any of the other Zodiac members. She seems to expect something else from Shigure despite the fact that he gives the impression of showing Akito somewhat-proper respect.

If you’ve finished the manga, you can easily tell who this “woman” Akito references is and what challenges this brings to the table. Because of how Akito was raised and the restrictions put on her childhood, Akito is naturally defensive toward women and easily goaded into jealousy because of them. By Shigure’s expression in the panel above, he definitely knew what Akito’s reaction would be to find his loyalty swaying and he honestly doesn’t care. Shigure has proven time and time again that he values himself and his well-being above everything else. Shigure has shifted his actions to displease Akito, because there is something (a reaction or otherwise) he wants from her that he feels will please or benefit him.

-C & J

fruitsbasketfeelings:

Analysis of Shigure’s “I am not nice at all” line - Requested by anonymous

C: It surprises me when a lot of fans don’t take what Shigure says about himself at face value. Shigure might not always be completely truthful with the secrets of the Sohma family, but he is honest about himself. He mentions quite a few times how he doesn’t have the best morals and how he isn’t a great, upstanding person, and he doesn’t hide the fact that he will use anyone to get what he wants. He can be an enjoyable character for some, but he is corrupt and he will tell you that he is corrupt.

J: I think most of the time, there aren’t deep meanings behind what Shigure says. He says what he means and doesn’t try to fluff it up.

fruitsbasketfeelings:

Analysis of Shigure/Mayu relationship; “he’s like a ripple” line - Requested by anonymous

C: From what I know of Shigure, he is a very distant person. Even with those he considers close friends (Hatori, Ayame), he keeps part of himself apart from everything else to act as an impartial observer. Because of this, he is able to often say/do cruel things at the expense of those he claims to have feelings for. This distance doesn’t change when he is in a relationships with Mayuko. He’s in the relationship for himself (he is “bored”), and thinks it’s an amusing way to pass the time. He doesn’t invest himself into the relationship, preferring to keep his emotions to himself and merely watch everything play out. You might even think that he finds it interesting to watch Mayu react to Kana and Hatori, knowing how she feels about Hatori. 

Mayu calls him a “ripple in the water.” To me, this line can mean that she sees the aftermath of actions, but she doesn’t really understand the man who caused them or why he caused them. She can’t see the pebble falling into the water, only the ripples it creates.

fruitsbasketfeelings:

Analysis of Shigure’s “He’s your brother” line and thoughts on his involvement in Ayame’s neglect of Yuki - Requested by sailorvchan

C: [Possible Spoiler Commentary] My interpretation of Shigure leads me to believe that he cares for himself above all else. He finds humor in most everything, even if it is a more painful situation. Shigure’s expression in this panel as well as his personality throughout the rest of the story leads me to believe it was meant as more as faked shock and teasing, “*gasp* You forgot? Again? Ayame! That’s your brother!” possibly followed by a laugh. Shigure tends to amuse himself with other people’s lives and sometimes makes inappropriate commentary about serious situations (such as Yuki and Ayame’s troubled relationship).

I don’t believe Shigure’s actions, however, have any bearing on Ayame’s choices. Ayame ultimately decided (and admitted to) disregarding his brother. Putting the blame on someone else for how Ayame decided how to treat Yuki minimizes Ayame’s responsibility and takes away from how he tries to treat Yuki differently now, with more respect and love.

fruitsbasketfeelings:

Analysis of Shigure/Rin tension - Requested by Cheryl

[Potential Spoiler Commentary] Before knowing Rin very well, this scene didn’t stand out for me as much as it does now. For someone as opinionated, stubborn, and proud as she is, what does it take for her to stand there while Shigure calls her stupid directly to her face? I feel very uncomfortable with the scene now, because I don’t see as much mutual sexual tension as I first thought. I see Shigure sitting proudly in his position of power, taking advantage of Rin’s very rare subservient stance, and Rin becoming a tool (something completely against her nature) and giving up her normal, wild power.

A lot of people call Rin terrible names, and I don’t understand why. She and Tohru have very similar goals through more than half of the story. While they go about it different ways, Rin is trying to help those she cares about the only way she thinks she can. She is strong and has a lot of courage.

-C & J

(Source: manguh)

fruitsbasketfeelings:

Discussion of Shigure’s dream - Requested by Cheryl

C: [Potential Spoiler Commentary] The dreams the Zodiac have of Akito are very important to their motivations throughout the story. At such a young age, the sudden feeling of love (could it truly be called love?) could be over-whelming for Shigure and the other Zodiac members who were there waiting for Akito to be born. I don’t know if I can quite call it love, because my definition of love means the feeling as time to grow and develop. It isn’t… automatic. And it isn’t something that is “supposed” to happen like the connection the Zodiac feels with their God. Devotion? I think that’s part of it. Loyalty and something warm to fill the void in their cursed lives too. Shigure describes this dream and the feelings that come with it as a “promise.” A promise of what? To me, a promise of release, of possession, of a companion… But he is still a child - a child who was always willful, selfish, and stubborn as many are. The curse and the dream affect each of them differently according to their personalities. I believe Shigure takes these feelings and turns them into a weapon and Akito into a possession. And in his own words, he will use or hurt anyone with these weapons to get what he wants.

J: Obviously the dream didn’t have anything to do with Akito as a person, as she wasn’t born yet. It was just a manifestation of the bond between god and the dog, which might be stronger for him than the other members of the family. Being so young, I think Shigure interpreted this as a love for Akito, when it really didn’t have anything to do with her at all. He makes several mentions of how he will do whatever it takes to get what he wants, and he doesn’t mind hurting anyone who gets in his way. I think Shigure is mostly concerned with getting the feeling of peace and closeness that he got in that dream for himself. Not Akito, and not anyone else.

What do you feel, followers? Do you like this dream? Do you feel it’s genuine love? What other emotion could it be?