Wow, after a long hiatus, I’m so glad to see so many reviews and comments to this day. *bows* Domo arigato minna-san!

So what can I say? I’ve bee busy writing about anime in a magazine, I’ve been busy writing about games but even after all this time, anime is still my number 1 love!

 So we’re moving Otaku Shrine to http://otaku-shrine.com– and take note, since Michiko is busy with the magazine, this will be a one-man– ehem, woman show. So I do hope you guys drop by!

More anime and manga in that site!

If I ever had to choose my favorite among the many superb and truly fascinating j-music tracks around, I’d definitely and unhesistatingly choose Olivia’s “A Little Pain” from the soundtrack of the truly wonderful anime NANA.

Adjectives cannot even sufficely describe my extreme attachment to this song– it pulled me through some harrowing moments and still gives me inspiration to this day. A friend who is not even that fond of anime music totally liked this song because not only is the melody heart-stirring, Olivia’s voice totally soars and touches the hearts of its listeners. Here’s the video *heart-heart-heart-LOVE*

For the complete English translation of ”A Little Pain” 

Travel to the moon
The dream where you first appeared fades out
The light of the star I longed for is taken away
The smile I had to forget in order to be strong, for sure
If we are together, we can take it back

Open your eyes,
I’m here waiting for you
There is a future different from now
I’m here waiting for you
And I continue screaming
The thread that binds our hearts together is pulling
To bring you by my side as before
No need to cry

Travel in silence
I extend my hand to feel you, yet
You’re so far away
That memory is etched within me
When I hear your voice as I close my eyes
Even a little pain is precious to me

See me now,
I’m here waiting for you
When I’m all alone being blown by the wind
I’m here waiting for you
I can see the entire sky

Truly inside my heart, my hands stretch out to protect
Your heart, until you come back
No need to cry

(Feel something, Feel nothing)
(Listen closely, listen closely)
Wide open ears
Disarm the dream tickler
In the constant moment
(You will find me where it’s quiet)
(Listen closely, listen closely)
Let the blood flow
Through all the spaces
Of the universe

Open your eyes,
I’m here waiting for you
There is a future different from now
I’m here waiting for you
And I continue screaming
The thread that binds our hearts together is pulling
To bring you by my side as before
No need to cry

(Listen closely, listen closely)
(Listen closely, listen closely)
(Listen closely, listen closely

 This song really inspired me, the anime novel I’m working on uses “A Little Pain” as its EP in my mental soundtrack.

There was a time when I totally gave up on Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. While the fillers were a huge turn-off, BeeTrain’s animated rendition of TRC was a far cry from the CLAMP’s mouthwaterinly artistic manga. And I have to admit the theme song played whenever Syaoran battles someone to get Sakura’s feather gets old after a while. And the flashbacks to meeting Yuuko are not at all invigorating. So I stopped following Syaoran and Sakura’s story for months.

Two days ago, while in hot pursuit of Beck’s manga scanlations, I stumbled upon the latest chapters of TRC. I opted to read the chapter 145 which was the last update. Holy good lord my heavens! The very first page hooked me with an all out battle between Syaoran and Hikaru (Angelic Layer). Warning! Spoilers full speed ahead! Do not read if you don’t like S-P-O-I-L-E-R-S! CLAMP is a freakin’ genius for all the amazing plot twists and cliffhangers they throw at us slavering fans! This is the front cover of one of the latter chapters– good lord– two Syaorans!?! Spoilers Ahoy!!!

Sakura-gumi with the real Syaoran in tow (click here & here for the explanation why I said the “real Syaoran”) have arrived in the Country of Chess. In the country of Chess, we meet Eagle, the head of a mafia-like family who runs the nation. He is flanked by Geo and Lantis who are known as the Family’s Jewels (sorry, it kinda seems weird and so yaoi actually). Eagle is holding a fightng tournament that operates much like a chess game. While players would pit their strength against each other, either by combat or true magic, they will be controlled by their “master” whose will drives and gives the “pieces” strength.

Sakura and her team have won the games easily, arousing the interest of Eagle, prompting him to remark that the girl (Sakura) is strong and that she must want something badly. Going back to Sakura and her team, Syaoran catches Sakura when she almost collapsed due to exhaustion and her still unhealed leg injury. They look at each other and Fai goes to the Princess’ side and takes her to her room. In her room, Sakura throws herself on the bed and confesses that even though she knows that the one with them is the “original” Syaoran, he is still not the “Syaoran-kun” for her. And that even though “they look the same, sound the same and have the same honest gaze, he is not Syaoran-kun”. While talking to Fai, Sakura also made the wizard promise to not smile anymore unless he means it.

On the other side, Kurogane is telling Syaoran to not feel responsible for all the damage his clone has wrecked not only on other worlds but also on their group. Syaoran still looked downcast as Kurogane said, “And also about your feelings for the Princess…” Apparently, because Syaoran was caged for a long time by he has mostly lived through his clone’s experiences and he feels to blame for chaos his clone has caused who is now working for Fei Wong. Because of the tragic expression on his face, Kurogane offers him a drink. When asked if he can handle alcohol, Syaoran replied, “Yes, because He can.” And Kurogane replied, “I’m asking about you.” Syaoran looked down and said, “I don’t know.” After drinking, Syaoran fell asleep quickly (and because he was also heavily wounded) but even asleep, he said, “I will protect the Princess.” *sobs!*

In the later chapters, it’s also revealed that Sakura had a dream that made her decide to leave their group in order to prevent it from happening. In order to travel between worlds on her own, Sakura spoke to Yuuko and is so determined to leave Fai, Kurogane and Syaoran that she even offered her “good luck” as the price to travel between worlds. Sakura spoke of a future that would apparently hurt/incapacitate her friends so she has decided to look for her feathers. Before their last match with Eagle’s group, as a door separates Syaoran and Sakura, she says to Syaoran, “You are now free.”

The last match with Eagle’s group is a one on one tournament. Before it starts, Syaoran helps Sakura up her chair and tells her that they will win for sure. Sakura smiles at him and calls him Syaoran-kun for the first time. The match begins as Syaoran is pitted against Hikaru, an automata (cyborg/robot) Eagle had awakened for the match. The use of magic is also permitted in the game. And so begins Syaoran and Hikaru’s match. This is a scene before Syaoran’s match against Hikaru. *dun dun dun dun!*

More details when the next chapter gets scanlated! Btw, I got all this from onemanga.com so refer to my earlier post for the link or click here to go straight to TRC’s latest manga scanlations.

 Ja ne!

Words cannot describe the utter excitement I felt when I first stumbled on this site. I was only following a lead on Beck’s newest manga chapter when I found out that OneManga has an archive of great manga titles like Bleach, Eyeshield, D-Greyman, Naruto, Death Notes, NANA– all the great anime you can think of in one sweet website. It’s an otaku goldmine that is extremely user friendly–with all the latest manga chapters.

I don’t think i can rave enough what a great find, what a treaure this site is but I might be wasting your time here instead of directing you to it so click here to proceed and here is also the link: http://www.onemanga.com

Enjoy!!!

I just love Bleach, I mean, everyone does. There’s all these great fight scenes, wonderful plot and awesome characters– so what more can an otaku ask for? More romance fanservice please!

But since Kubo Tite is hell-bent on pursuing the story from a more shounen perspective, fangirls would have to make do with fanfics.

Since I haven’t posted fanfic recommendations for a long time, here’s one that had me hooked, I even had to have Author Alert installed just so I can read the latest update.

The Dating Game by twelve minutes ago:

If you weren’t there, you were square. Many captains and vice captains rounded up in Shinigami Women’s Association office, with the exception of some that didn’t really want to go, for they didn’t care about being square. Each of them had some with a large amount of money in hands, hoping to win their fill tonight.