#hajisaya

[mariannekhalil]

we meet again 🩸

[crimsonprimrose-crime]

HAJI COLLECTION (part 3)

Character Design and Voice Actor interview!

Character Design: Haji

“Until we get Haji!”

Designing Haji took quite a lot of time. This page introduces how his design changed over time and commentary from Shinji Fudenshi, the character designer.

Haji at the start of design

The plan was to model him after Bjorn Andersen from Death in Venice, but he ends up not looking like him. I didn’t want a typical beautiful person, but rather an alluring-type of beautiful person. Since his right hand is a chiropteran hand, I added a lot of bandages on him. For the clothes, originally, he’s to wear frills and lace-up boots but it would be difficult to move in them.

2. Haji’s Expression at the beginning

I imagined him to be with blonde hair but the design had changed to black hair. I designed his face with the thought of a blonde character, if I knew he’d have black hair he would have a different face. At this stage, I had only drawn him with short hair and then instructed to “make his hair longer” so it changed to long hair.

3. Clothing Variation

I really struggle with his clothes. I first tried the reference materials they sent. However, it was difficult to incorporate, it’s hard to make it look good, so I stressed a lot about it. You can see all the trail and error (laughs). Haji was the only one who was asked for unusual clothes.

4. Fine Tuning the Design

The overall shape had finally come together but I continued to change each part one by one according to the director’s order. I also thought Haji wants to hide his right hand so I made his sleeves much longer. We also decided to put a belt on him to make him look more masculine.

5. Final Draft

Ultimately, all that’s left is the face (laughs). In the end, the same image from the beginning of when I imagine him stayed the same. The impression of his face might seem sleepy and unmotivated but I think that’s also part of Haji’s charm. I’m really happy he turned out to be such a good character.

How to Draw Haji, Step by Step!

Draw the face outline and guidelines for eyes.

Add features and hair roughly.

Finalize and add details.

-And done!

Key Points: Tired-looking eyes, pale skin, very thin build

“Please draw him looking like he’s not thinking about anything.” – Director’s order

15 Questions about Haji!

Interview for the one who plays Haji, Katsuyuki Konishi.

(translator's note: homebro voiced Sylus, Boothill, Reiji, Tengen, Aryu AND Haji??? bro got me sold! sorry for the worst quality ever)

> Haji’s Blood Type and Star Sign?

I’m not sure, maybe B? His sign is a Virgo, doesn’t he look like a girl?

> Which underwear does Haji prefer? Trunks or brief? (t/n: loooooooool)

100% briefs. It’s a bikini. A bikini, right? (t/n: looooooooooooooooool)

> If Haji were an animal? And what flower would suit him?

A dog. Definitely a dog. The flower that suits him… a pansy. (t/n: this makes me cry coz Pansies mean “remember me” in Japan)

> If BLOOD+ became a live action, who would play the role of Haji?

Johnny Depp, definitely!!!

> A moment when Haji is super cool?

When he’s standing 🧍‍♂️

Even when he’s just standing normally, he looks cool.

> If Haji’s in your class, would you be friends with him?

I’d definitely want to be friends. I’d 100% be curious about him. I’d go up to him and ask things like, “What do you like?” I’d totally mess with him (lol).

> Your favorite line of Haji’s?

“Saya, fight.”

Also, the long monologue after defeating Sonja in episode 17 left an impression, “I will always watch over you. Even if you change into something else, even if we’re separated. I will find you – no matter what.”

> Favorite Haji battle scene?

In episode16 of the Russia arc, “Siberian Express.” The fight on top of the train, he goes shaki shaki shaki… the bending of his fingers one by one to prepare for battle. Then just as he’s about to attack, he hears “Haji!!!” from Saya, so he smoothly backs off, and the chiropteran gets slashed down by Saya’s sword as she emerges from the train. I think that scene is really cool.

> Something memorable that others have said about Haji?

That he’s “sexy!” People often say he’s mysterious and alluring. I was thinking it might be nice it it turned out that way but I guess the artwork just naturally took it in that direction.

> Honestly… what do you think about how Haji gets his nutrition?

I think he does it now and then. Just a little. Probably from some beautiful woman somewhere (laughs). (t/n: I wish they animated a scene where Haji gets blood from a Saya who I assume is the certain beautiful woman lol)

> Be honest, how do you feel about all those times Haji gets impaled? (t/n: lol)

It’s very pitiful, huh? Kitamura-san (Saya’s voice actress) said, “It’s not Haji if he doesn’t get impaled.” Well, I guess it’s one of his trademark scenes.

> How do you feel about Haji’s lack of lines?

Honestly, it doesn’t bother me. I think it suits his character, he’s not the type to speak much. When he does finally say something, it feels earned. Like, “Ah, there it is.” If he had a stronger presence all the time, it wouldn’t feel right. That quietness, that subtlety. That’s exactly what makes Haji who he is.

> Was there anything that felt like a little unfortunate about playing Haji?

As a character, the silence works really well. But if I’m speaking as an actor, sometimes I wondered, “Is this really okay for me?” As a performer, you want to express more, speak more. There were times when I felt a little “unlucky” that way. Like… I wanted to understand Haji better, and saying more might have helped.

> What advice would you give Haji?

Maybe slap Saya just once (laughs). Slap her and give her a proper adult scolding. Maybe like, ‘You always say things like that, and I get how you feel, but still…” kind of scolding.

> Your final message to Haji.

I feel like Haji uses his being a chevalier to escape. That maybe how he really feels but I don’t thing that’s all there is to him. He probably thinks that, since he has eternal life, he must keep living if Saya does. But I want him to stop thinking that way even if just once. I want him to live as if today were his only day. Whether Saya is there or not, I want him to live just once… with everything he’s got.

Part 1 and Part 2 are here!!!

This took me longggggg to translate because life kept bothering me and I get easily distracted lol. I used a bit of help from AI (woop!) cuz I can't recognize most kanjis tbh.

[chiropteraqueen]

Blood+ and Evanescence's Fallen Album

For a while, I was seeing everyone (specifically on Tiktok) talk about the aesthetic similarities between Ergo Proxy and Evanescence. It is undeniable that Re-L and Amy Lee look nearly identical, especially from the Fallen album. To completely out myself here, I am unsure if Re-L is actually aesthetically based on Amy Lee, since I have seen contradicting statements. I may not be an Ergo Proxy expert, but I do have an argument that Evanescence both aesthetically and lyrically go hand-in-hand better with Blood+, possibly more so than Ergo Proxy (no hate, no shade, just hear me out...)

I will be focusing on Evanescence's 2003 'Fallen' album for this analysis, although I do believe many of their other music coincides with Blood+ just as well as this entire album. This comparison is also only including the TV show, not the manga or novelizations. I may do a deep dive into the manga in the future, though.

The great thing about music is how versatile the meaning can be to every listener. I will admit, when I first watched Blood+, it was around the same time I was avidly listening to Evanescence nearly every day, as angsty teenagers do. The probability of me intertwining my two favorite medias was high, but it has remained something that has stuck with me after all these years. Once again, this is just a personal opinion, I'm not claiming Blood+ was inspired by the 2003 album (or maybe it was... the world may never know ;)) but I do hope I can get more people behind the belief that Evanescence is worthy of being an anthem for this show, and the music pairing with Blood+ is just as valid as the Ergo Proxy pairing.

Lets start from the beginning...

Track 01. Going Under

For years, this track was a bit estranged from my Blood+ theory, as I used to have a hard time understanding where and how it could possibly fit together, as I grew older, and my analytical skills advanced, the comparison is rather surface level, in my opinion.

Although I am following chronological order with the tracks, the meanings behind the songs in that order do not match up with the chronological order of the show (this point could be debated, though...)

Saya's main goal has been to defeat Diva, her driving force that was revealed much later in the show, if following episode chronology. But, when we get insight on her past as the audience, we see this has been something she has been working towards since her departure from the Zoo after Joel's death, sometime after 1883. The more we see her throughout history, it has always been the same goal: Kill Diva, put an end to Chiropterans for good. But what has Saya done to achieve this? What has she lost in the process? This is where this track starts to show it's similarities.

Now I will tell you what I've done for you,

50 thousand tears I've cried,

Screaming, deceiving, and bleeding for you...

This anger, sadness, accusatory tone all fits with what she has done because of the harm her sister has caused after all these years.

Don't want your hand this time, I'll save myself

Saya wants to do this herself, she pushes away everyone she has ever loved out of fear she will lose them. The only one she "allows" to help is Hagi, even with him, she is rather stubborn about accepting the help he offers.

As the song continues, we can connect these intense feelings of anger and yearning for freedom back to Saya, maybe SHE'LL wake up for once, not tormented, daily defeated by Diva. Drowning in her life's purpose to kill her.

Saya, after her hibernation is blurring and stirring the truth and the lies, she doesn't know what's real and what's not. Confusion played a big part in her self discovery, and that discovery dug up nasty memories that reminded her that she will always have blood on her hands. Vietnam, arguably her darkest time, both during the Vietnam war and her later return. How, in a state of confusion, she can become uncontrollable.

So I can't trust myself anymore

The heart of the song is a story about overcoming these suffocating toxins in your life, taking a stance to control your own life again, instead of being controlled by anger. Her relationship with Diva is much more than physically damaging, but emotional too. Diva isn't the only one hurting her, though. Saya also tends to do it to herself. By the time she realizes this, all the damage has been done, and from then on, she has to learn to live with what happened and accept it, pushing forward in life despite her losses.

You can watch the Going Under music video here

Track 02. Bring Me To Life

Bring Me To Life has always been THAT song, infamous for early 2000s anime AMVs, every emo kid knows all the lyrics, and known for being a meme. Aside from the cultural significance this song has literally all over the world, I just know plenty of people claim that this song is an anthem for their personal favorite early 2000s edgy anime. And I can't blame them, I mean hell, here I am doing the same thing. I cannot claim that I am the first person to make the comparison between this song and Blood+, actually I'm pretty positive nearly all the Blood+ AMVs I used to watch on Youtube almost always used this song.

This song, like all the others, has many meanings and many comparisons I can make, but the one that is always at the forefront of my mind when I hear this song is the unspoken love between Saya and Hagi.

Immortality is a lonely reality, can people who have lived for decades truly connect with regular people? Immortality in vampires is an age-old concept, so it comes as no surprise that it plays a huge factor in Saya's story. What I love about Blood+ is the unusual logistics in the Chiropteran Queen's immortality. The loneliness of a Chiropteran Queen's reality, but the ones even more obscured from society are the Chevaliers, especially when one loves his Queen so deeply.

Chiropteran Queen's must sleep in a 30-year hibernation period, a vital and unstoppable bump in the road for them, but the Chevaliers? They never sleep. They can't sleep. A 30-year sleep feels like a blink of an eye for the Queens, but for the Chevaliers, for Hagi, every day must feel like a lifetime. Saya may wake up to a different world every time, but Hagi must remain stagnant as he watches the world go on without her. Once the hibernation is over, and Saya is once again reunited with Hagi, he is the one person who truly knows her, who truly understands her like no other.

All these years together, side by side, Hagi can see right through Saya, knowing her possibly more than she knows herself.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?

Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb

A mystery to Saya, how Hagi understands her so deeply, knows her so well, until their past together reemerges in her memories.

In a literal sense, Hagi wakes Saya up. Literally. With his blood. Bring Me To Life, to me, encompasses their unspoken love, but also the literal waking up of Saya.

A few verses later is where Hagi's voice and feelings become more prominent to me.

Frozen inside without your touch, without your love

Hagi's life ever since he was a child has been around Saya. His life is hers as her Chevalier. Deep down, could he be thinking "What is life without Saya? Without her touch, without her love?"

Hagi is his own person, yet his devotion and stoic nature, disregarding his own feelings and desires for Saya's, he has a deep, primal dependency on her in a way that is borderline toxic. Not in an abuse sort of way, but in a way where Hagi has nearly completely forgotten himself because he is so drunk on Saya.

To finish it up, a surface-level similarity,

I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems

Got to open my eyes to everything

Has always reminded me of Saya's hibernation, how every time she wakes up, the world around her completely changes, like a thousand years has passed.

This song will always remind me of Blood+, even the duet style of the song in a way reminds me of Saya and Hagi... although I CANNOT stand the male vocals, simply the duet aspect furthers my point. I would like to personally decre this song as one of the ultimate Blood+ anthems, but I'm sure many people would like to disagree with me :p

You can watch the Bring Me To Life music video here

Track 03. Everybody's Fool

TW: Mentions of suicide

I will keep this track short and sweet (probably)

The meaning behind this song is a heavy topic that I don't want to misinterpret too much. Evanescence's original interpretation of this song seems to be criticizing how sociey values (or lack there of) women. The over and unnecessary sexualization of women. But I also feel that this song shows how the high beauty standards that women are held to can subject them to self hatred if they don't fit into the box that society has forced them into.

The way Blood+ fits into this song is a bit different than what the original meaning is about.

Saya obviously suffers some mental health problems, even if it isn't spoken about it in the show, it is apparent in her behaviors. The most prominent one being her suicidal mindset. The pact she has with Hagi, the promise to kill her once she finally kills Diva. It is blatant suicidal behavior, and I really don't think any arguments can be made against that. And I hate to say it, but it is incredibly selfish on Saya's end, to force the man who has loved her through every life time to kill her.

Other quirks about her that has lead me to the conclusion of her suffering mental health issues is her ability to push people away, the insecurity she has after she finds out she is the same type of creature that she has been killing all this time, the self hatred that comes along with that discovery. PTSD is another very obvious struggle she has. One of the most lowkey and drawn out one is her feeling like a fraud. Hear me out here...

She woke up in Okinawa with no memory of who she is, she lived this near perfect high school life with a loving family, then suddenly it is revealed to her that she is a weapon, a killer, a monster. Although she, and everyone else are fooled, Red Shield and her father were not and they knew the truth the whole time. To discover a lie such as that is a world altering devastation, along with the other trauma she suffered in such a short span of time. Feeling fraudulently of who you are is a given after such an event.

To encompass the entire song, rather than give direct lyric quotes, is a perfect example of how Saya truly feels about this "perfect" persona that she once had, and how she feels she will never truly be that. How she feels that everyone can see right through her "lies."

I do believe that her family life with George, Kai, and Riku was not fake. They are a true family, and who she was in Okinawa was simply herself in blissful ignorance, not that she truly wasn't that happy girl. Insecurity does wild things to the mind, including making you believe things that are not true. In the future, I would like to go into deeper analysis about Saya's mental state.

If you are struggling with your mental health, help is available.

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Call 988

You can watch the Everybody's Fool music video here

Track 04. My Immortal

A very fitting title for a show about Vampires.

Everyone has cried to this song at least once, and if you say you haven't, you're lying.

The state of mourning that Saya is constantly in, losing loved one after loved one for decades, there is no better song to compare to than this.

There's just too much that time cannot erase

No mater how many years she lives, no matter how many years she sleeps, time will never erase the scars of losing the people she loved. She even mourns innocent lives taken by her own hands, haunted not only by the pain and suffering she has experienced, but also the pain and suffering she has caused.

Arguably, the loss of George and Riku have impacted her the most, especially Riku, as she has an intense character change after his death.

When you'd scream, I'd fight away all of your fears

With all her might, all she's ever done since she woke up in Okinawa is protect her family, fight anything that puts them in danger, and she still lost them.

I could also see this song applying to Hagi, once again. A song just as melancholy as he is. The same applies to him, he would fight anything that put Saya in danger. I also feel it resonates with his loneliness during her 30-year hibernation, and the dilemma he faces when he yearns for Saya to live on and be happy, yet bound to fulfill his promise of killing her once Diva is dead.

I held your hand though all of these years

But you still have all of me

Underneath the mask of a monster fighting show, Blood+ does a wonderful job at showing the way trauma effects and changes you, along with the hardship of overcoming loss. This soft underbelly of storytelling beneath all the blood still leaves me breathless, even after all these years of re-watching the show.

(On a sillier note, I'm sure I used to watch plenty of Blood+ AMVs featuring this song as well... I was an AMV fiend as a kid.)

You can watch the My Immortal music video here

Track 05. Haunted

TW: Mentions of SA

When I first listened to this album as a kid, I didn't quite understand the meanings of every single word in every single song. This was one of them.

My first comparison I ever made to this song, before I understood the implications, was Episode One. Specifically, Hagi's stalking. In a very surface level sense, this can still apply, but just barely.

(I know you're still there)

Watching me, wanting me

In my adult years, with a now full understanding of the meaning of this song, I don't stand behind the comparison of Hagi's stalking to this song.

To me, this is the hunt for prey that Diva is constantly on. The hunt for Saya, yes. Moreover, the hunt for Riku.

Diva wanted Riku the moment she had a taste of his blood, thus began the dreadful string of events that lead to his ultimate demise.

As strange as it was, once Riku became Saya's Chevalier, his nose sniffed out Diva better than anyone else. Perhaps it was her haunting him, in a way. This song encapsulates the panic of Diva's arrival on The Red Shield Headquarters Ship.

Hunting you, I can smell you alive

Your heart pounding in my head

Such as Riku hearing Diva's voice in his head.

The assault and murder of Riku is one of the most gut wrenching and hard to watch scenes, even though the assault happens off-screen. As disgusting as it is, things like this do happen every day in the modern world. I have seen discourse about this plot point, that it was unnecessary, triggering, etc. I do not disagree, yet I don't agree at the same time. awareness to the reality of CSA is necessary. For an assault to happen to a boy rather than a girl is not often portrayed in media, male SA survivors don't have a ton of "representation," showing that SA can happen to anyone is a very bold and brave plot point to add into a show, especially one airing in 2005.

At the end of the day, although fictional, what Diva did to Riku is obviously not okay. I didn't write the show so please don't shoot the messenger here. Everyone is allowed to have their opinions on what happened. Like it or dislike it, it is something that happened in the story, and something I believe should be discussed more in the fandom.

Aside from Diva, Karl is another character who comes to mind while listening to this song, his absurd obsession with Saya. His violence towards her, his drive to kill her, sometimes in certain scenes IN MY OPINION feel sexually driven. I know this is an odd observation, perhaps I watch too much true crime, but many men tend to kill for sexual gratification. Karl is a rather monstrous character, and I believe he does have an attraction towards Saya that has become so intense and obsessive that it turned towards extreme violence. Almost the "if I can't have you, no one can" mindset. This is not a claim that I ship them! It is simply an observation and opinion, taken from statistics of sexual violence in the real world. Karl's infatuation with Saya is also most likely amplified by the idea of the opposite queen's Chevalier bound to be the other queen husband, or mate. (And considering Karl's jealousy of Solomon when he manages to get close to Saya.)

This is a rather heavy subject, please make sure to take care of yourself and take a breather if its too much. If you have been or are currently being sexually abused, help is out there for you.

National Sexual Assault Hotline

1-800-656-4673

You can listen to Haunted on Spotify here

Track 06. Tourniquet

TW: Mentions of suicide

Back on my Saya/Mental Health rant again...

This is another heavy hitting song, and does have theme's similar to the Everybody's Fool analysis, so I will try not to yap too much.

When anyone asks me 'if you could have a super power, what would it be?' I never say immortality. People are perplexed. "Why?! It would be so awesome!" is often the response. Yeah, the idea is cool if you don't put too much thought into it. It would be cool probably for the first 30 years, maybe 50 years... until everyone around you starts dying. Befriending people, knowing that you'll just watch them die one day. Sure, with immortality, you no longer fear your death, but instead, you fear everyone else's death.

Saya's suicidal tendencies make sense. Selfish? Yes. But they make sense. You can only live for so long until you get tired. Tired of losing people. Tired of fighting. Tired of living. It makes me believe that her careless fighting, when she doesn't care if she gets hurt or not, is a cry for death. Maybe she is hoping one of these times, it'll finally take her out.

My wounds cry for the grave

My soul cries for deliverance

Will I be denied Christ?

This song is a more direct take at suffering from suicidal tendencies. Saya's are much more reserved, as she suffers in silence, putting on a strong face for everyone around her, but she yearns for eternal rest.

If you are struggling with your mental health, help is available.

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Call 988

You can listen to Tourniquet on Spotify here

Track 07. Imaginary

One of the more underrated songs by Evanescence, everything from the lyrics to the instruments, the heavy guitar and symphonic strings and piano that accompany it. Almost like an opera, which is a common musical theme I notice as we draw near the end of the album.

Imaginary is a track that is rather ambiguous in nature especially when intertwined with Blood+. When I was younger, it reminded me of Diva in her own childish world that she lives in. That argument could still be made, but once again, as I grew older, the lyrics true meaning revealed itself to me.

As mentioned before, I believe that Saya clings on to the idea of a normal life, perhaps too much. Once her hibernation starts inching closer and closer, her ability to remain awake is far and few. Towards the end of the show, she is seen sleeping a lot. I've always wondered 'What could she be dreaming about?'

We've gotten snippets of her dream-state, often ethereal and floaty. Which is exactly the feeling I get while listening to this track.

I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge

The nightmare I build my own world to escape

Sleeping is her unavoidable fate, but also her escape.

Many people cope with depression and trauma in all sorts of way, but a common denominator is the need for sleep. Matter of factly, you cannot be sad if you're asleep, a mindset many have, including myself at one point. It can only lead me to believe that she can escape the hell of reality with the temporary relief of her sleep. Just as unavoidable as her hibernation, she is always bound to wake up.

I linger in the doorway of alarm clocks screaming

Monsters calling my name

Let me stay where the wind will whisper to me

I am a firm believer that her sleep has its pros and cons, as heartbreaking as it can be to sleep and wake up 30 years later, the possibility of your loved ones being gone will never be enjoyable, but perhaps she can self medicate, for lack of a better term, in her dream-states.

You can listen to Imaginary on Spotify here

Track 08. Taking Over Me

Alright everybody, buckle up for this one because this is my number 1 choice for a Blood+ anthem. This will always be one of my favorite Evanescence songs for many reasons, and yes, a big reason is the eerie similarities to Blood+.

It's a rather direct mirror, this track and the show. The lyrics prove it themselves. To be more clear, this is absolutely a Hagi song. No doubt about it.

You don't remember me, but I remember you I lie awake and try so hard not to think of you But who can decide what they dream? And dream I do

If this isn't the most Hagi coded verse of lyrics you've ever read, then I don't know what is. Gah, these opening lyrics get me every time.

I believe in you I'll give up everything just to find you I have to be with you to live to breathe You're taking over me

Ahem... 'I'll give up everything just to find you' HELLO? Did Hagi write this song? Hagi searching for Saya in every lifetime, no matter where she goes, he gives up everything just to find her, to be with her.

Have you forgotten all I know And all we had?

(Such as Saya's amnesia)

You saw me mourning my love for you And touched my hand

(Such as his CHIROPTERAN HAND,,,,,,,,,,, sorry I'm getting way too worked up over this...)

I knew you loved me then

I am a firm believer that Hagi has always known that Saya loves him, even if she won't admit it to herself. It is undeniable.

I look in the mirror and see your face If I look deep enough So many things inside that are just like you are taking over

When Saya is in her hibernation, I am sure Hagi sees her face just about everywhere, in everything, in everyone. She has taken over him, body and soul. After all, if it wasn't for her, he wouldn't even be alive, able to live all these lifetimes with her. Saya, cursed with the fate of forgetting everything, everyone every time she wakes up, Hagi is cursed with knowledge, with memory. One more time for good measure 'I lie awake and try so hard not to think of you' oh buddy. OH BUDDY. He is so down bad. Unable to sleep and I just know she is all he can think about.

I love them so much. Wish this could be written a little more professionally but I simply cannot contain my excitement when I listen to this song.

You can listen to Taking Over Me on Spotify here

Track 09. Hello

Amy Lee has been rather vocal about how the death of her sister has effected her, and how it inspired a lot of what Evanescence is today. Death is a common theme between this show and this album.

As stated before, Riku's death was one of the most hard-hitting losses that Saya has gone through. To lose someone you love is hard already, but to lose a little brother who you always swore to protect? A little brother who you've already watched die once before? Talk about twisting the knife in the wound.

This song lyrically brings in very childish aspects into play, intentionally. Lee lost her sister when she was a child, and at that age, death is very foreign. Death may not be foreign to Saya, but a loss of this caliber? It most likely leaves her in a state of denial,

If I smile and don't believe

Soon I know I'll wake from this dream

Saya wasn't the only one to lose a brother. Kai lost a brother too. There is not a day where he walks past a park, a playground, other children, and see Riku.

Playground school bell rings again

Kai's state of mourning appears to be much different than Saya's. After his death, Saya falls down a path of anger, isolation, which are valid responses to such a trauma. But, Kai reacts differently. The next time we see Kai after Ep. 32, his demeanor is much more grown up, perhaps his brothers death is what lead him to realize that Riku would've wanted Kai to live his best life, to do what is right, to fight for what is right, and we all know Kai would do whatever it takes to make sure Riku is happy, even beyond the grave.

Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping

Hello I'm still here

All that's left of yesterday

I also like to loosely connect this song to Diva's mental state when she was locked up for experimentation at the Zoo. Due to the childish nature, the feeling of loneliness. What her feelings were and what she went through are merely up to our imagination. How did she feel when she met Saya? A sense of betrayal? She was basically a living test tube for Amshel and Joel, while Saya got to roam free, and receive the care and love every child should get? It's obvious her resentment started very early on. She was tested on, treated like a thing, an animal, all so Saya could live a normal life.

Hello I'm the lie living for you so you can hide

To finish up my thought on this song and how death plays a huge role in everyones lives in this show, this song also connects well with The Schiff and their limited understanding and fear of oncoming death.

I mean, what is life without the fear of imminent death?

You can listen to Hello on Spotify here

Track 10. My Last Breath

A lot of my analysis have focused primarily on profound emotions of the characters, and how the story has effected them. As we look at these last two tracks on the album, they have always stood out to me as more situational.

From the opening note of this track, it feels more 'hopeful' in the light of Blood+. Although the true meaning of what Lee wrote this song is up to interpretation, and perhaps the true meaning is not meant to come off as 'hopeful,' but all I can think about is Saya before the opera, before the final fight against Diva. Right when the song opens, it riles me up as if it's a cheer for victory. As if it's Saya telling everyone 'This is it, this is the end.'

Hold on to me love You know I can't stay long All I wanted to say was I love you and I'm not afraid Can you hear me? Can you feel me in your arms

Saya's unspoken goodbye to Hagi, the reminder of their promise once the fight is over.

Holding my last breath Safe inside myself Are all my thoughts of you Sweet raptured light? It ends here tonight

Heavy on 'It ends here tonight.' She made up her mind the moment she stepped into the opera theatre. It was going to end here and now, the end of Diva, and the end to all Chiropterans.

I'll miss the winter A world of fragile things Look for me in the white forest Hiding in a hollow tree (come find me) I know you hear me I can taste it in your tears

At this point in the story, she knows her past. She knows who she is, what she's been through, what she's done, where she's been. This is a callback to her time in Russia during the Russian Revolution. Deep down she knows how much she has cherished the moments she has lived, those moments with Hagi.

Closing your eyes to disappear You pray your dreams will leave you here But still you wake and know the truth No one's there Say goodnight, don't be afraid Calling me, calling me as you fade to black

Yet, all those memories we see of her past, she is always bringing up the promise. After all these years, it is the one thing she consistently remembers. How many times do you think Hagi as hoped she forgets the promise after her hibernations? How much does his heart break when she remembers? Every time she brings it up? 'You pray your dreams will leave you here, but still you wake and know the truth.' As the end draws near, even thinking back to those memories, Saya still doesn't hesitate with the reminder.

'Say goodnight, don't be afraid.' Is this a reassurance to her friends? Her family? To Hagi? Or is it a reassurance to herself, to not be afraid of her sister. After all, this is what she believed her life has been leading up to. To not be afraid to die, whether it be at the hands of Diva, or at the hands of Hagi.

You can listen to My Last Breath on Spotify here

Track 11. Whisper

As we transition into the last song on the album, we also transition into the final fight. This song makes the album go out with a bang, bringing back the powerful guitar and rock music artfully intertwined with the operatic scales both in symphony strings and singing. The opera in the song perfectly cascading us back into the battle between Saya and Diva, one of the most anticipated scenes in the show.

This truth drives me into madness I know I can stop the pain if I will it all away If I will it all away

Saya knows it is up to her and only her to finally put an end to all of this. Her determination as her sheer driving force, pushing her to will it all the way, no matter how tired she is.

Don't turn away (don't give in to the pain) Don't try to hide (though they're screaming your name) Don't close your eyes (God knows what lies behind them) Don't turn out the light (never sleep, never die)

What I also like about this verse is how Lee's harmonization with herself makes it sound almost like a duet. Almost as if those haunting harmonizations are Diva's taunting words as they fight.

Here's the best way I can visualize what I am hearing, color coded With red for Saya, and blue for Diva

Don't turn away (don't give in to the pain)

Don't try to hide (though they're screaming your name)

Don't close your eyes (God knows what lies behind them)

Don't turn out the light (never sleep, never die)

Twins, the harmonizing is just as identical as they are, yet the different notes that are sung encapsulate the hopefulness that Saya brings, and the sinister intentions Diva has. So alike, yet so far apart from each other.

Fallen angels at my feet Whispered voices at my ear Death before my eyes Lying next to me, I fear She beckons me, shall I give in? Upon my end, shall I begin Forsaking all I've fallen for? I rise to meet the end

The frantic singing mirrors that of the climax of the fight, the way the sisters both rip their dresses, symbolizing that nothing is holding them back from their goals anymore. The final acceptance of what they are about to do.

And, excuse me, the opera singing at 2:39? Is that not perfectly fitting? No one can convince me that isn't Diva.

Let's visit back to that verse, because there are a few things to unpack there. First of all, theres that theme of death coming back to haunt the narrative again. The haunted memory of her losses, but death itself before her eyes. Death herself. Diva has been the cause of all this destruction, ironically enough since she is the one with the blood power to create, whereas Saya has the blood power to destroy.

'She beckons me, shall I give in?' Diva has beckoned her from the beginning with her singing, all the way back at the Zoo up in her tower.

'Upon my end, shall I begin' potentially foreshadowing how Saya breaks her promise of death after the fight is over, and lives on. Upon what she thought was her end, is actually her new beginning. 'Foresaking all I've fallen for?' But that constant battle inside, living is forsaking the decade long promise she has sworn Hagi to keep. Thus regardless she 'rise(s) to meet the end' and follows through with killing Diva, in hopes maybe Diva's blood will kill her, to save Hagi from the heartbreak of having to kill her.

As the song speeds towards the ending, I can't help but imagining the sheer adrenaline that the sisters had during the final moments of their battle. The instrumentals do a lovely job at invoking that sense of adrenaline and determination.

Once their swords finally pierce each other, I don't believe either of them had an immediate sense of relief. I imagine it probably felt like the aftermath of an explosion, ears ringing as you try to figure out what the hell just happened. Until the gravity of the situation hit them both. Saya is immediately struck with anguish, confusion, regret, as she tries to hold the crumbling pieces of her sister together, crying and wondering why her sister is dying, but not her. She was supposed to die too, she thought.

As the song closes, we are bombarded with the sound of a choir, singing Servatis a periculum Servatis a maleficum

Chanting over and over again, almost unsettling, yet in a way it's telling you 'it's finally over.'

In Latin, 'Servatis a periculum, Servatis a maleficum' roughly translates to 'Saved from danger, saved from the evil one.'

The world is finally saved from danger, from Diva's villainy. But that anxiety still lingers regardless of the victory they won. Diva's children remain, and if she wants to rid the world of their kind, she must kill the children too. And after that, Hagi will be the one to finally put an end to all Chiropterans by killing Saya. A victory won, but bloodshed is still a price that must be paid even after Diva is dead.

The track ends leaving us with that exact same feeling, and although the song may not end in a happy, hopeful way like the show does, it still represents the climax of the show like no other.

You can listen to Whisper on Spotify here

Sheesh, thats a whole lot of yapping. I do hope this made sense, I know music is always and entirely open to interruption, and I do not want to discredit those who like to correlate Evanescence's Fallen album with Ergo Proxy, but I did want to make the argument that Blood+ also fits the narrative of this album as well, since I feel like I never see people compare the two.

This was all fun and games for me to write, and thank you to everyone who has read this and people who have shown interest in reading, even before I was able to publish this! I love this show and fandom with my whole entire heart. I hope you guys can feel just as passionately about these similarities as I do!

[mariannekhalil]

till next time 🌹

[crimsonprimrose-crime]

HAJI COLLECTION Part 2

THE ADVENTURES OF HAJI: THE LOYAL DOG! (T/N: Most of the sfx around Haji is just him making cute sounds for his movements and such lol)

Haji: *found on a Mandarin (orange) box* Haji: Saya... Saya: You are? Haji: ...fight... Haji: *is shaking holding the sword as it is heavy for his body* Saya: *took the sword LIGHTLY*

Kai: So... You brought him home huh? Saya: I can't just leave him alone. George: Oh! A guest! Riku: Come here! We have food! Haji: *staaaaaare* Kai: Tch. Why the hell does it not look friendly? Riku: I don't think so at all?

>A Chiropteran Appeared!!! Chiropteran A: Hey You! Chiropteran B: Why don't you come play with us? Haji: *kills swiftly* Haji: It can't be helped. I've killed another worthless opponent. David: That's Saya's Chevalier....

Julia: So this is Saya's chevalier. Julia: Does that mean he also have a chiropteran body to transform to? Julia's imagination: *Haji with wings* Julia: Maybe something like this? Julia's imagination: *Haji, alien like with fairy wings* Julia: No, wait... it could be something like this!!! Julia: I want to see... I REALLY want to see it.

T/N: Here's the part 2 of the translation of the Haji Collection and part 1 of its mini comic of Haji's Adventure haha!

Here's the Part 1 and will be uploading the next part some time later hoho~ let me know ur thoughts!

[crimsonprimrose-crime]

HAJI COLLECTION

It's Finals weeks, you know what that means... time to fixate on my favorite anime character. I did promise yall lol but it's mostly rough translate coz English nor Japanese are my mother tongue lol

(he's just so beautiful yall 😔🩷)

Table of Contents.

Part 1.

Haji, Love and Destiny [Rough Translation]

An interview with Director Fujisaki, Producer Omatsu, and Producer Ochikoshi

Haji: The Main Character

Originally, they wanted to call him Kuroi Tsubasa. They even enjoyed calling him ‘Tsubasa-kun’. Saya’s character is fix as they wanted to base her from the movie Saya. But, for this anime, they wanted three male characters to be Saya’s chevalier. A high school boy, a guy who turned into a chiropteran, and a guy who’s good with swords. They ended up merging all three to turn into Haji.

The Secret Behind the Cello

They wanted Haji to have this “stalker” vibes that “will always look after her” from the very beginning but they weren’t expecting him to use the cello as his weapon. The image of Haji is just some guy who received Saya’s blood and his image to be like a murderer. But they removed the murderer image. They then thought of just having him as a punching bag, who’ll receive all blows from the enemy and David will be the one to draw them in for Saya. They think it’s better to have someone who can protect you with their body (lol). They just can’t imagine Haji fighting at first. They even considered him doing judo but they think it won’t look good.

The cello’s purpose is originally just for the plot. They weren’t expecting it to be swung around like a stick. The cello is 30kg and was meant to store swords. Again, fighting with the cello is unexpected for them. Ever since it was used as weapon, the producers said they’ve rarely seen Haji open the case.

Characterization, Visual, and Fashion

They wanted Haji’s voice to be both sexy and lustrous. But they realize that he’s a character that talk less so they ended up with the voice he has now. They made him talk with less “masu” so he wouldn’t sound like a woman. (I didn’t understand that part lol sry).

For his character design, they made him dress in a hanging, loose manner. As to fit the “If you are in the future, you are not a person of the future. You aren’t also a person of the past. You are not a person and you don’t have a place to belong. You are a strange person” kind of vibe. They also wanted Haji to compliment Saya’s beauty, in a way. Saya who seemingly look like a normal girl who then stands out with a good-looking Haji. They also gave Haji a naïve and half-asleep look.

They were planning to make him talk and laugh more at some point. But he ended up not doing it. (why though ;-; we all want a happy, smiley Haji). Though they do want him to laugh at the end. They did made him talk more at the last seasons but only talked logically. Though they think that made Haji look really good and that he feels more human. Haji then became a character that went beyond the position he was placed in.

For his image, they wanted him to look like a beautiful young man like Bjorn Andersen. Haji’s original hair is supposed to be short until it was change to a long hair. It was due to them asking female staffs which is better. They all think the long hair suits him much better.  It’s effect is like when a character removes his glasses and then revealed a very much good looking person. The director even wanted him to pose with his right hand on his belt, untie his hair, and take off his jacket. (anyone wanna draw Haji in those poses????? That’s so hot tbh.) The very reason they dressed him with long costumes because it look better when they are fluttering. Haji’s fashion decision has taken more time than a small night.

(Bjorn Andersen's image.)

Haji’s Past

When writing the history [of Saya and of the Zoo], they thought of Haji’s background to be a child adopted by Amshel to be a potential bridegroom for Saya and is also his adopted son. That’s why he was able to move around the zoo. He’s not just a playmate to Saya. He also received education and lived a decent life. Also learned manners. Other than that, he is a “master geisha” because he has acquired all the skills necessary for life. He can cook, he can clean a household. Not good at fishing though.

Age and Setting

Haji’s 19 years old. He’s 15, or 2 years older than that at the beginning. He wants to surpass Saya. In Saya’s point of view, he’s a kid who suddenly grew much taller than her and turned into a good-looking older brother. Saya had mixed feelings about it and of Haji’s complicated gaze. They made him 3 years older than Saya to give him a much maturer position. As for his name, there are no other Romanian name that clicked. The word Haji has a surprisingly goo sound. A nickname-like word, close to Saya.

Haji’s Love

At first, Haji sees Saya as a close older sister. But sometimes sees his mother’s image in her. However, to bring out their awkwardness, they made them fight over trivial things and for them to also open up to each other. The director originally wanted them to just be a family than a romantic bond, like a older sister-younger brother vibe. But the producers sees the potential romantic relationship. Though they think that Saya doesn’t really Haji as a man. Haji gradually developed romantic feelings for her. But feared that if he confessed, their relationship will fall apart. The fact that he is holding back is what makes Haji so adorable. Haji’s expression of love is probably the most essential part. As he gets to know Saya, the more he gets shaken but it is his strength to control it. However, from a romantic point of view, both are very clumsy lovers. It’s hard to watch.

Haji is the most happy when he’s with Saya. If she wants him close, he is there. If she wants him away, he’ll watch from a distance. His aesthetic is to match Saya. Haji doesn’t ask for anything for himself, he takes great joy in giving or when she’s happy. He is smart, or rather, has the tendency to look at things very objectively. He looks at things from a distance which is why he can see everything around him. That’s why he thinks George is an amazing person because he was able to make Saya happy and that’s why he thought it is the right place for Saya.

The Fate of Saya, The Fate of Haji.

Everyone’s asking the director to make Haji happy but he often contemplated on what really makes Haji happy. For Haji, he believes that he only exist in the past. They hope that Haji’s longing to open up a future with Saya will be fulfilled. Haji’s wish is to free Saya from all the battles in whatever way she wants and that will make him really happy. Saya’s fate is always tied to something like that and Haji just want her free. Saya has lived her whole life wanting to be free and Haji’s putting all his energy to fulfill it. To Haji, it never mattered what he wants even if he’ll never have the kind of relationship he wants with Saya. Even if he’ll have to ‘fulfill his promise’ to Saya, he’ll be happy to do so. Though if Haji loses Saya, he wouldn’t be able to survive.

What change Haji is that he saw the Saya with the Miyagusuku family in Okinawa. He saw Saya smile. If he didn’t saw that, he would have continued that dark path of the promise. But somewhere in Haji’s mind, he saw a different path which Saya didn’t know. Haji didn’t mind to take that path even if he’ll die just to make Saya happy.

Haji is the star actor of the show. He paved the way til the end. He became the foundation of Blood Plus. Haji was the difference between Blood+ and Blood: The Last Vampire movie.

Watch out for Part 2! (Yall can correct me with other translations!)

[hachikos]

“I wanted to see your smile. Once more, like when we first met. I have been serving you and was glad to return to you, even if I had to give everything up. When I first awakened after becoming a Chevalier the first things you showed me were your tears. And, driven by rage, you chose to take up arms and fight. However, when I found you in Okinawa, you were wrapped in happiness. There was the smile I could not give you, no matter how much I wished to.”