Alright, I'm not mad at Tite Kubo-san any more. (Bleach Ch. 460)

I'm glad I took a break from reading Bleach, because until the most recent chapter, it would have just kept pissing me off. Ichigo is a fighter. And even though he did fight in between the defeat of Aizen and chapter 160, it really wasn't right. He needs his zanpaktou. Seriously. And I really did miss my Shinigami. ^_^

Kuroshitsuji 2 - Episode 7

I don't have the proper screenshots to go with this episode, since it was only on hulu. When the fansub is out, I shall do a post. Suffice it to say, it was yet another awesome episode. Maybe not quite so epic as the past two, but still amazing.

Kuroshitsuji 2 - Episode 6

Um.... this is a long post. It's a very important episode. So settle in and get friendly with the scroll bar.

The episode opens with the last scene of the first season: Sebastian is about to make Ciel his dinner. Then Ciel goes limp.

Alois' servants are trying to get Ciel for him. They attack with ... garden tools? The ladder is my personal favorite. They really take Sebastian too lightly. Sebastian talks to himself about how easy it was to carry Ciel around "back then" when he was like a doll. Anyway, Sebastian easily escapes with Ciel.

At the party, Hannah brings out a strange musical instrument and starts to play it. All the guests grab their heads in agony. They are all wondering what's going on. Lau and Ran-Mao have their ears plugged with wine bottle corks, so they are not affected. The guests' eyes start glowing blue and they attack Ciel's friends.

Sebastian hears the noise outside and has Ciel cover his ears. He fends off the triplets while he keeps his hands over Ciel's ears as well. Awesomeness. Ciel wants to return to the assembly hall. Sebastian reassures him, saying that one of his few friends is present. It's cool that Sebastian refers to Agni as a friend. ^_^

Agni hits pressure points on Ciel's party so that they are no longer affected by the instruments' sound. Everyone takes to the task of fending off the spellbound party-goers.

We get to see Maylene without her glasses again! They seem to be doing well, but the guests keep getting up.

Sebastian then appears and begins playing a tune on water-filled glasses, in his impossibly perfect manner. The music he plays fits with the music Hanna is making and produces a strangely calming melody. Agni says that it shows the pure hearts of the one performing. HA!

The guests are no longer entranced. The instrument breaks, obviously planned by Sebastian. Sebastian thanks Hannah for assisting in a wonderful performance. The instrument is apparently called an armonica, buried in the past as an instrument of the demon. Which makes it perfect for Sebastian.

Alois Trancy appears, acting pleased that everyone enjoyed the "entertainment". Sebastian asks to speak with Claude. Alois gives Claude 10 minutes to settle the matter with Sebastian or he will be punished. Ciel tells Sebastian to finish Claude off. Claude and Sebastian go to a pond outside to "talk".

Claude is trying to get Ciel simply because it was an order from Alois. Sebastian insists that Ciel is his master. Claude dismisses this possessiveness as a useless notion. Sebastian finds it disgusting to even think of anyone else touching Ciel. They begin fighting.

Flashback to the point where Sebastian was about to devour Ciel's soul. A spider is seen crawling over the raven which we saw flying away during the last episode of the first season. Sebastian has realized that Ciel's body is empty. It is useless to devour the body without the soul, or visa versa. He gets so pissed off that he destroys part of his little island place. We see him walking out of the rubble carrying Ciel's body.

Claude talks about when Sebastian came to the Trancy mansion and took back Ciel's soul. But his soul was incomplete. All of the memories, all the pain, all of the time Sebastian had spent "raising" him, was lost. Sebastian realized it as soon as he placed the ring back on Ciel's finger. What Sebastian wanted was a soul carrying out revenge, but Claude says that he feels the Sebastian has a strong attachment to Ciel's soul. Claude doesn't seem to have any sort of special attachment to Alois. Just the usual Imma-gonna-eatchya relationship. Claude doesn't believe there's any point to having Ciel get revenge a second time. Sebastian insists that Ciel is special. The problem is that there is no one to be the target of the revenge. Having Ciel taken from Sebastian would be a pain worse than death.  Sebastian proposes a trade.

At the party, Ciel tries the curry bread that was made for him. It doesn't stir any memories, but admits it tastes good, even though he dislikes spicy things.

In another room, Claude and Sebastian sit opposite each other at a table. In front of each of them is a white rose on a plate. They remove their gloves and slit their wrists, letting their blood drip on the rose in front of them. As the roses absorb the blood, they turn a deep red. The deal they make is this: "I will have you two become those my young Master will carry out his revenge against." "Under the condition that I will receive the soul of Ciel Phantomhive who has carried out his revenge." They exchange roses and drip their blood on the others' rose, affixing the seal. As the blood drips on the roses, they turn black.

Claude appears at Alois' side. Ciel is momentarily shocked, thinking that Sebastian had lost. Sebastian immediately appears in front of him, wearing the rose. Ciel is furious that Sebastian did not get rid of Claude, until Sebastian produces several documents.

They show that the Trancys were investigating him as well as his father. Alois is upset with Claude because he didn't kill Sebastian, until Claude points out that killing Sebastian was not one of his orders.

Alois insists on dancing with Elizabeth. Everyone is surprised when Ciel joins in. Claude and Sebastian exchange knowing glances across the room. Sebastian sniffs his rose and reiterates, "Young Master is mine."

The episode ends with Alois vowing to possess Ciel and Ciel vowing to kill Alois.

Awesome episode, but there are a few things that are bugging me.

In the first season, we learned that the closer the curse seal is to the eye, the stronger the bond is between the demon and his master. Since Ciel's is on his eye and Alois' seal is just on his tongue, that means that the bond isn't as strong, right? So does that mean that Claude can give up on Alois? Sebastian gave up on Ciel for a while there during the first season, as I understood it ...

The next thing that's bugging me is the deal that Sebastian made with Claude. How can this benefit Sebastian in any way? Sure, Ciel will get some sort of revenge, but then Sebastian won't be able to reap the benefits. I are confuzzled.

And then there's Ciel's father. Have you noticed how similar his appearance is to Sebastain's? They're almost twins! Did Sebastian assume this form so that he would remind Ciel of his father? Or is there some other connection? Was Ciel's father devoured by Sebastian? Are Ciel's father and Sebastian one and the same? There could be no connection at all, but it still piques my interest.

Kuroshitsuji 2 - Episode 5

Finally, some pieces of the puzzle are coming together! We learn from a scene with Prince Soma that Sebastian has told everyone that Ciel has amnesia and that they must pretend not to know anything so they don't hurt him. But is that really the reason why Sebastian is having them keep quiet?

 Everyone's going to a costume party at the Trancy estate. Alois Trancy was kidnapped at an early age, only to return 3 years ago with a mysterious butler, just before the former Earl Trancy died. Sound somewhat familiar? Three years ago was when Ciel's home was burned down and his parents murdered, so he sees a link in this.

Ciel gets dizzy as soon as he enters the Trancy mansion, clinging to Sebastian in a very uncharacteristic move.

When Ciel finds Elizabeth and Lau in the drawing room, he wonders aloud why Madame Red isn't there as well.

Prince Soma arrives and forgets his promise to act like he doesn't know Ciel. Thankfully, Agni is able to save the day.

In another room, Alois is upset with the costume choices he has. He ends up throwing a crown at Hannah. He momentarily considers making Claude wear a dress, which I think would have been hilarious. Then he makes Hannah strip. Alois is a disgusting kid. He's obviously going to use her dress as a costume, but it is disturbing how he treats Hannah. I wonder why she takes it.

I'm rather amused that Ciel's costume is a pirate, what wiith the eyepatch and all. Finnian, Mey-Rin and Baldroy are the three traveling companions from Journey to the West.

Sebastian is searching a room when Claude discovers him. They are both rather nonchalant about it, but Sebastian makes sure to tell Claude that he will not give Ciel to them. It is at this point where Claude definitely states that he's also a demon butler, although the subtitles I've seen don't reflect the wordplay.

Back at the party, Finnian, Mey-Rin and Baldroy try to demonstrate their prowess as servants, but just end up breaking everything. Their follies are all quickly repaired by the weird triplet Trancy servants. I wonder what they are...

Alois, disguised as a servant in Hannah's clothes, spills a glass of wine on Ciel. He takes Ciel to another room on the pretense of cleaning off the jacket. However, when he says that he's done, the stain is just as it was before. Alois admires Ciels ring, says some weird stuff, talks about his eyes, gets way too freaking close, and licks his ear. Eeew!! He takes Ciel's eyepatch off when he backs away and calls his eye impure (which it is, of course). Alois runs off and Ciel starts to feel dizzy again as he gives chase.

At the party again... Agni made curry bread using the mansion's kitchen in the hope that Ciel may remember something if he eats it. This is the point where Lau learns that Ciel has amnesia. -_-"

When Ciel get to the basement, he thinks to himself that he knows the mansion, but then dismisses the thought. Then he starts seeing faint images of Sebastian going down the stairs, just like the first episode. He hears the conversation that took place back then. Ciel proceeds down the stairs. He goes even more woozy when he sees the boxes of tea where his ring was stored and barfs.

Ciel runs out of the basement and into the woods outside, where he encounters Alois. Ciel reveals that he knew it was Alois all along, he just wanted to let Alois feel that he could make his move. Claude shows up, as well as the triplets, and Sebastian reveals himself. When Ciel asks Alois what he wants, he says that he wants Ciel, to possess him. Alois tries to coerce him into giving himself up with the threat of killing everyone back in the mansion, but Ciel will have none of it. Ciel has all confidence that it won't be so easy to kill his friends back at the mansion. Alois claims that Claude is the better butler and reveals the contract seal he has on his tongue. Alois orders Claude to get Ciel for him and Ciel orders Sebastian to protect him. It's the battle of the butlers!

Occult Academy - Episode 6

Still dealing with Kozue and her sudden lost of interest in the occult after the simulated near death experience. The teacher had explained away the images of Kozue looking for her glasses in the afterlife as time lag in the instruments. Maya is convinced, however, that Kozue left her occult-loving heart in the afterlife. Abe-sensei goes into the NDE machine with Kozue to try to bring her back. Abe remembers parts of his life having to do with his childhood, when he was performing his bend-a-spoon act, and how his mother used and abused him.

Then we get a flash of the end of the world, when the earth is invaded by aliens. Maya is the only one who knows that it is real. Everyone else thinks it's either a movie or Abe is nuts.

Abe brings Kozue back and she is very excited about her near-death experience.

Maya then agrees to join forces with Bunmei to find Nostradamus' Key.

Occult Academy - Episode 5

Kozue is obsessed with finding something that is definitely an occult phenomenon.

After several failed attempts, she volunteers to be the subject of a near-death experience experiment.

When she wakes, she no longer needs her glasses or believes in the occult. But then we see an image of her searching for her glasses on the monitor. Creepy!

Kuroshitsuji 2 - Episode 4

I love love love this anime! If anyone reads this, you are hereby commanded to go read the manga, watch the first season, then watch the second season up to this point. This episode was so cool that I don't know where to start... If you want an episode summary, look here. I'll just be covering points that I thought were especially interesting. Forgive the plethora of screenshots, but I couldn't help myself.

I find Ciel's apparent amnesia disturbing. I'm wondering what Sebastian has up his sleeve.

I was quite amused that Sebastian nonchalantly tells Ciel that he met the pharaoh about a thousand years ago and that's how he knows the mummy is a fake. Ha! They meet the detective who looks exactly like Aberline. Of course, Ciel doesn't remember Aberline, which is very sad. Aberline almost brought him back to humanity... Anway, we find out that he is actually Aberline's twin brother and mentions that his brother often spoke well of Ciel. T_T Sebastian remains silent, with that little grin on his face, as usual. Gah, it's driving me nuts!!!

Then we see Claude in the dining car with them! Sebastian sees him, but doesn't mention anything to Ciel. I'm sure that Ciel knows nothing of his revival. His memories probably begin with the outing with Elizabeth in episode 2.

I love how Sebastian kicks the kidnapper out the window of the train. And how he flips the track switches with forks.

And how he teases Ciel about always getting kidnapped.

And how, after everyone bands together and comes up with a great plan, Sebastian says, "No. This is nice, but me alone is enough.".

And how he his head just plows through a stone bridge instead of being decapitated. And how he tears off the entire roof of the dining car and throws it off the train.

And how he stops the train with one hand.

Of course, Claude was in the dining car, but that's not something Sebastian would be concerned about, ne? Claude gives Sebastian an invitation to a ball at the Trancy estate, alluding that it would help Ciel get his revenge.

I love the preview for the next episode, too! I am definitely buying all of this stuff when it's licensed in the US.

Blood+

Blood+ was a recommendation from my sister. She was very excited about it, so I figured I'd give it a try. I'm sorry to say that I can't share in her enthusiasm. I started watching Blood+ on July 6th and I just finished the last episode. Considering the speed at which I usually watch anime, this is incredibly slow. In keeping with my recent laziness, I'm not going to write a synopsis since you can find all the info you want at Wikipedia.

Hagi was undoubtedly the best character, but his passiveness was a bit irritating. I was glad to see the allusion to his survival at the end of the series. Saya was freaking annoying. I wonder how many times she said the line "Diva." throughout the series. Dang. I find it incredibly freaky that Diva did it with Riku. I mean, he was just a kid. Ick. Kai was incredibly irritating with his "I'm going to protect you no matter what" attitude, followed by his complete lack of capability to do so. The ending was okay, but not incredibly satisfying. It would have been better if Hagi had returned to Saya before she went back into hibernation. The music for the series was incredible. However, I can't say that I enjoyed Diva's song, especially after all of the repetition.

So that's pretty much my take on it. Was it worth ~18 hours of my life? I don't know. I could have lived without it. I think I ended up finishing it just for completion's sake. It's not one I would consider buying, so I guess that's the answer right there. Overall, I think I'd give it a C.

Yumiero Patissiere - Episode 42

Team Ichigo is going with gelato for the next round of the competition.  They perfect pistacio, rum raisin, and some other flavor, but the gelato shop's owner's wife says that they will need a unique flavor if they are going to attract customers. So they decide on salt gelato with sakura. Ew. It's gotta be a Japanese thing. They end up winning, but only because Ichigo comes up with a marketing ploy, calling it the DaVinci Code Gelato and shaping it into a pyramid. Good morning, copyright infringement! Ah well. Now they're in the semi-finals.

Kuroshitsuji 2 - Episode 3

We get a cute little scene where Sebastian just melts for a bunch of kittens. ^_^ Ah, Sebastian .... *sigh*

Um, anyway ... So. The most interesting part of this episode is that Ciel seems to have forgotten about Grell. Grell is obviously confused about this, but doesn't ask why Ciel doesn't remember him. Ciel also refers to Madam Red as if she were alive. I guess he has amnesia of some sort.

Other interesting items: The woman who was killing people in the episode mentioned that the person with the golden eyes told her it would make her happy. Claude has golden eyes. The order from the queen to solve the case also mentioned "the spider". Sebastian investigated and found out that it is referring to the Trancy family, who helped clean up evidence previously. Alois is now Earl Trancy. It looks like there's going to be a lot more of Alois and Claude in the series. I can't say that I'm really all that happy about it, but hopefully it will turn out to be interesting.