Kudou Kazahaya (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
touch_sensitive) wrote2005-12-21 03:33 am
touch_sensitive) wrote2005-12-21 03:33 am
Kazahaya's Kei
Recently, I introduced Kazahaya to the Jyuusenko springs, specifically, the Spring of the Drowned Twin. This is specifically a camp based spring designed and I had a number of people questioning why I would choose to do this. Since it is quite integral to Kazahaya's character, I thought I'd do a short write up about things.
So, really... why Kei?
The really short answer would be: I dearly love exposing my characters weaknesses and forcing them to work though it to either grow from it or be broken. It's just what I do. I enjoy the process.
The long answer requires a bit of digging into Lawful Drug's underlying plots.
{WARNING: There's probably spoilers.}
So, first of all, who is Kei?
For those of you that have never read Lawful Drug, Kei is Kazahaya's mysterious past. We see her in flashbacks and brief glances. She appears thoughout the series as Kazahaya is reminded of her, but he never speaks of her except by accident and only once by name. He does not actively talk about her, and the few times that he has ever slipped up about her, he clamps down, closes himself off, and changes the subject.
What we have learned about her from Kazahaya's memories is that they are siblings - probably twins - who were raised together and had lessons (possibly and probably dealing with Kazahaya's powers which would imply that Kei had similar - but not necessarily the same - powers) pretty much cut off from the outside world. Their lives revolved around each other, and that's how they thought it would remain. Kazahaya is pretty well wrapped around Kei's fingers. He wants to make her happy and promises to stay with her forever becuase he knows "what a pain in the ass it is to get [her] to stop crying."
Why is Kei so important to the story?
We don't know. Kei is the mystery of all mysteries in LD along with Rikuou's Tsukiko. With Kei, we know who she is and actually quite a bit can be inferred from Kazahaya's memories of her, but we don't know why he left home (breaking a promise to Kei in the process). This broken promise is probably one of the most pivotally important keys to understanding what's going on - unfortunately, we're kept completely in the dark about the actual events which caused it to happen.
There are pieces of Kazahaya's memories which give clues as to what might have occurred. He mentions that if they had stayed together it would have been either Kei or Kazahaya. What exactly would have happened or what the choice or decision would have come down to is never explained.
The decision to leave was not an easy one for Kazahaya to make, nor is it easy for him to be apart from her. He is very determined, however, to stay away from her and takes his jobs seriously as a means to maintain his independence. Despite how humorous the jobs and the antics that occur in them may become, Kazahaya persues them with determination - even going so far as to work when he's incredibly ill.
Now, why Kei?
I chose to have Kazahaya turn into Kei to reveal more of his back story to the camp at large. Kazahaya is very much a "live in the moment" person because dwelling on the past is difficult and ultimately fruitless. The decisions he makes, he tends to stick with stubbornly no matter what logic or his own heart might dictate. He rarely has occasion at camp to bring up anything about his past, and even if he did have the opportunity, he would avoid it as something that was simply better left unsaid.
Using the springs, I was able to force him into showing more about himself than he ever would have chosen to do willingly. I was hoping do do more with the development of her and how Kazahaya views her, but It was difficult to play. One thing that I think at least somewhat got across was the fact that while he was wearing his sister's form, his entire demeanor changed. He was very careful of how he reacted to things and a lot more serious, which is very much canon for when he thinks about Kei.
Having Kei show up at camp was almost necessary to begin to show a different side of Kazahaya. Most people are willing to accept his child-like exuberance and without a care nature, but few are willing or able to recognize that he has a deeper, darker nature as well. This is due to his unwillingness to show it. Kazahaya is a spoiled, selfish character - even Kei points that out to him - however, the decisions he makes are usually based on some sort of solid reasoning. He may be unable to explain those reasons immediately, or concisely, however, they're usually there.
Finally, why the springs?
Oh yes, this was also debated. It would have been very easy to say "lol gender switch virus" but it seemed almost too cliche. Yes, Kazahaya would have turned into Kei if he had been hit with the virus. He would not have had the misfortune of getting to play with the complete unexpected aspects of switching back and forth suddenly and randomly - not to mention the illness which finally causes him to snap. Another aspect is the fact that it is much more difficult to play Kazahaya within his character while he's in Kei's form. Most of this is due to Kazahaya's respect for his sister and his much more solomn demeanor, and the rest is due to the available Kei images.
Why end it? And why Kohaku from Wish?
I, honestly, don't plan things out well. I start something and see where it will take me. Kazahaya's time as Kei was difficult for me as a player as well as for Kazahaya. Following his breakdown and his discussions with Cal (who remains the only in game person he's spoken with about Kei), Kazahaya made the decision to fix things. His original intention was to attempt to find the correct spring - the Spring of the Drowned Youth - but that would have lead to complications with other characters with which I didn't want to deal. Falling in to the Spring that he did (I still haven't figured out a proper title for it.), Kazahaya was freed from what he considered the worst part of the curse - turning into Kei. It wasn't simply that he was changing form when ever he was splashed with cold water, it was the fact that it was her.
Kohaku is an angel from Clamp's series Wish. As you might have noticed from the icons, Kazahaya and Kohaku look remarkably alike. The decision to have Kazahaya's form change into Kohaku (minus the wings) was based upon an interview with Clamp artists translated from the Clamp Kiseki, in which the interviewer asks them if there is any signifigance between Kudou Kazahaya from Lawful Drug and Kudou Shuichirou from Wish both having the same last name. The question was dodged with the (pissy) answer of "it's a secret" while the authors continue talking about other names.
This has lead to speculation that there is indeed a connection between Wish and Lawful Drug. Unfortunately, as there has yet to be any solid evidence of it, nothing from Wish can actually be used as canon. So, I bend the rules a little and allow Kazahaya to assume Kohaku's form for a while with the springs. Again, this was to avoid the often used "chibi virus" or a "de-aging" virus.
Is this the end?
No probably not. I love playing with Kazahaya as a chibi - just because it's insanely fun. However, at some point, it will have to end (I can't keep it up forever and I want my icon spaces free). It has been a fun ride though, and hopefully, I've amused someone with it.
Kei-Related Manga Scans
Volume One
Scene One
Scene Two
Scene Three / Part Two
Volume Two
Scene One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four
Scene Two
Scene Three
Scene Four
Scene Five
Scene Six
Scene Seven
Volume Three
Scene One
So, really... why Kei?
The really short answer would be: I dearly love exposing my characters weaknesses and forcing them to work though it to either grow from it or be broken. It's just what I do. I enjoy the process.
The long answer requires a bit of digging into Lawful Drug's underlying plots.
{WARNING: There's probably spoilers.}
So, first of all, who is Kei?
For those of you that have never read Lawful Drug, Kei is Kazahaya's mysterious past. We see her in flashbacks and brief glances. She appears thoughout the series as Kazahaya is reminded of her, but he never speaks of her except by accident and only once by name. He does not actively talk about her, and the few times that he has ever slipped up about her, he clamps down, closes himself off, and changes the subject.
What we have learned about her from Kazahaya's memories is that they are siblings - probably twins - who were raised together and had lessons (possibly and probably dealing with Kazahaya's powers which would imply that Kei had similar - but not necessarily the same - powers) pretty much cut off from the outside world. Their lives revolved around each other, and that's how they thought it would remain. Kazahaya is pretty well wrapped around Kei's fingers. He wants to make her happy and promises to stay with her forever becuase he knows "what a pain in the ass it is to get [her] to stop crying."
Why is Kei so important to the story?
We don't know. Kei is the mystery of all mysteries in LD along with Rikuou's Tsukiko. With Kei, we know who she is and actually quite a bit can be inferred from Kazahaya's memories of her, but we don't know why he left home (breaking a promise to Kei in the process). This broken promise is probably one of the most pivotally important keys to understanding what's going on - unfortunately, we're kept completely in the dark about the actual events which caused it to happen.
There are pieces of Kazahaya's memories which give clues as to what might have occurred. He mentions that if they had stayed together it would have been either Kei or Kazahaya. What exactly would have happened or what the choice or decision would have come down to is never explained.
The decision to leave was not an easy one for Kazahaya to make, nor is it easy for him to be apart from her. He is very determined, however, to stay away from her and takes his jobs seriously as a means to maintain his independence. Despite how humorous the jobs and the antics that occur in them may become, Kazahaya persues them with determination - even going so far as to work when he's incredibly ill.
Now, why Kei?
I chose to have Kazahaya turn into Kei to reveal more of his back story to the camp at large. Kazahaya is very much a "live in the moment" person because dwelling on the past is difficult and ultimately fruitless. The decisions he makes, he tends to stick with stubbornly no matter what logic or his own heart might dictate. He rarely has occasion at camp to bring up anything about his past, and even if he did have the opportunity, he would avoid it as something that was simply better left unsaid.
Using the springs, I was able to force him into showing more about himself than he ever would have chosen to do willingly. I was hoping do do more with the development of her and how Kazahaya views her, but It was difficult to play. One thing that I think at least somewhat got across was the fact that while he was wearing his sister's form, his entire demeanor changed. He was very careful of how he reacted to things and a lot more serious, which is very much canon for when he thinks about Kei.
Having Kei show up at camp was almost necessary to begin to show a different side of Kazahaya. Most people are willing to accept his child-like exuberance and without a care nature, but few are willing or able to recognize that he has a deeper, darker nature as well. This is due to his unwillingness to show it. Kazahaya is a spoiled, selfish character - even Kei points that out to him - however, the decisions he makes are usually based on some sort of solid reasoning. He may be unable to explain those reasons immediately, or concisely, however, they're usually there.
Finally, why the springs?
Oh yes, this was also debated. It would have been very easy to say "lol gender switch virus" but it seemed almost too cliche. Yes, Kazahaya would have turned into Kei if he had been hit with the virus. He would not have had the misfortune of getting to play with the complete unexpected aspects of switching back and forth suddenly and randomly - not to mention the illness which finally causes him to snap. Another aspect is the fact that it is much more difficult to play Kazahaya within his character while he's in Kei's form. Most of this is due to Kazahaya's respect for his sister and his much more solomn demeanor, and the rest is due to the available Kei images.
Why end it? And why Kohaku from Wish?
I, honestly, don't plan things out well. I start something and see where it will take me. Kazahaya's time as Kei was difficult for me as a player as well as for Kazahaya. Following his breakdown and his discussions with Cal (who remains the only in game person he's spoken with about Kei), Kazahaya made the decision to fix things. His original intention was to attempt to find the correct spring - the Spring of the Drowned Youth - but that would have lead to complications with other characters with which I didn't want to deal. Falling in to the Spring that he did (I still haven't figured out a proper title for it.), Kazahaya was freed from what he considered the worst part of the curse - turning into Kei. It wasn't simply that he was changing form when ever he was splashed with cold water, it was the fact that it was her.
Kohaku is an angel from Clamp's series Wish. As you might have noticed from the icons, Kazahaya and Kohaku look remarkably alike. The decision to have Kazahaya's form change into Kohaku (minus the wings) was based upon an interview with Clamp artists translated from the Clamp Kiseki, in which the interviewer asks them if there is any signifigance between Kudou Kazahaya from Lawful Drug and Kudou Shuichirou from Wish both having the same last name. The question was dodged with the (pissy) answer of "it's a secret" while the authors continue talking about other names.
This has lead to speculation that there is indeed a connection between Wish and Lawful Drug. Unfortunately, as there has yet to be any solid evidence of it, nothing from Wish can actually be used as canon. So, I bend the rules a little and allow Kazahaya to assume Kohaku's form for a while with the springs. Again, this was to avoid the often used "chibi virus" or a "de-aging" virus.
Is this the end?
No probably not. I love playing with Kazahaya as a chibi - just because it's insanely fun. However, at some point, it will have to end (I can't keep it up forever and I want my icon spaces free). It has been a fun ride though, and hopefully, I've amused someone with it.
Kei-Related Manga Scans
Volume One
Scene One
Scene Two
Scene Three / Part Two
Volume Two
Scene One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four
Scene Two
Scene Three
Scene Four
Scene Five
Scene Six
Scene Seven
Volume Three
Scene One
no subject
This is so much better organized than my ramblings, dammit.
Rikuou continues to feel like an utter idiot for not realizing he could bring Kazahaya water from almost any spring, by the bye. He's not likely to say anything about it, now or ever, but he hates failure.
I'd talk back to you about Kei, but... you know that when most of this comes up on irc I mostly 'hmm' and 'ah' at you, with occasional interjections on my theories about how specific the circumstances of their split would have to have been, which... yeah, you've heard.
no subject
Bah - your work is organized just fine.
Heh... ah well. Simple solutions sometimes work best.
And as always, I welcome discussion about LD at any time. So bring it on, yo.
no subject
Bah. I babble~~
And I know that ♥ It played out perfectly.
....I am not essaying tonight. Not even mini-essay-ing. I'll come back to it. Poke me if you really want me to.
no subject
I babble too. I just do it in paragraphs so people will think I'm somewhat edumacted.
-_-;;;;;;;;
*POOOOOOOOOOOKES* You know I do.