#ryuuzaki

[lopieloo]

a 3D render of Umi Ryuuzaki from Magic Knight Rayearth

[honestlydeeppolice]

aha

[character-archive-gwa]

"Kencho" Kenichirou Ryuuzaki

Zom 100

[saezurufeels]

How do you feel about ryuuzaki? I came across a tweet stating that they don’t ship yashiro and doumeki anymore and would prefer yashiro with ryuuzaki. People are allowed to have their opinions but i never got the love for ryuuzaki. I enjoyed his redemption arc and i thought he cared for yashiro but i never saw him as in love with yashiro. He also used to participate in the degrading gang bangs so i truly can never see him as a legit love interest of yashiro.

Ryuuzaki is like the character foil to Doumeki, or in other words, like an opposite. He loves Yashiro, but instead of protecting him like Doumeki does, he participates in Yashiro’s masochistic performance; he endorses Yashiro’s fake and hollow pervert persona, and thereby perpetuates it. They are like two actors who continuously play the same roles: the lustful and perverted masochist and the tough, no-nonsense yakuza. It’s easier for both of them to stay in those roles and pretend everything is alright, than to confront their own demons. They bring out the worst in each other. Additionally, Ryuuzaki reinforces Yashiro’s negative beliefs about himself, and Yashiro threatens to expose Ryuuzaki’s hidden belief about himself. What I mean by that is, Ryuuzaki degrades Yashiro, like you said with the gang bangs and violence, and Yashiro reminds Ryuuzaki that he’s not a respectable, heterosexual yakuza.

So, I agree with you, I can’t see them ever being together. Those two could never truly know each other. Ryuuzaki would only protect Yashiro if Y were a woman, because of his fragile masculinity and his fear of loosing his respectable yakuza image. But Yashiro will never open up to Ryuuzaki because the latter keeps degrading him, and Yashiro still has some self-respect. Even when he was 19, he didn’t think that yakuza who like to take their frustrations out on him during sex were particularly noble. Nevertheless, Yashiro offered to visit Ryuuzak in jail, twice, but R refused. A relationship between them would never work, even if Yashiro wanted it, because Ryuuzaki would never accept it.

However, I don’t think Yashiro cares about Ryuuzaki and his terrible personality, no offence. Yashiro only engages with people that have at least some decent qualities, like Misumi, Nanahara, and Sugimoto; Doumeki too, of course, but that’s a whole different story. Yashiro is still a good person, so even if Ryuuzaki affirms Yashiro’s negative beliefs about himself- and Yashiro seeks those affirmations- he can still distinguish between good and bad. Yashiro prefers good people, and only engages in affirmations occasionally, when he needs to calm his anxiety. That’s what the detectives were for. But unlike Ryuuzaki, the detectives also served another purpose: information. So when Doumeki said that Yashiro is selective with whom he sleeps (ch. 3.5), he was right. The only reason Y had sex with Ryuuzaki in volume 2, was to decrease the tensions between their groups after Nanahara got into a brawl with Ryuuzaki’s underlings. Even before the timeskip, Yashiro was careful about whom he slept with, and Ryuuzaki wasn’t his preferred choice. Great question!

[sketchyjaybird]

Is it cake?

Hi, I made a really dumb comic. Please enjoy.

[saezurufeels]

Not really an ask. I just want to thank you for bringing another perspective to the situation Doumeki and Yashiro are currently in. Almost everyone is panicking, including me, because of that last sentence he said to Yashiro.... But you gave something else to consider, that it was a good thing in manner that Doumeki was scared and angry FOR Yashiro due to his self-destructable nature. When I saw the spoiler of that page, I immediately rolled back to chapter one, where Doumeki interrupted Yashiro and that Detective and asked if Yashiro was alright. Compare to where we are now in the story, it does make you question why didn't anyone intervene, just once? The gangbang for example, instead that went on for God knows how long... Misumi watched, Ryuuzaki joined... And Sugimoto was very much aware what was going on with Inami in that hotel, but stop Doumeki from interfering... I mean, I get it, they were trying to get info that time, most of the time, ( and I think Yashiro was also trying to pull some Infor from Kido ). My point is that, Doumeki really is that only person who tried to Stop anything harming Yashiro, while everyone is just seem so relaxed about it because "it's Yashiro, he's used to it." Im not saying Doumeki is a total savior, he too brought another trauma in Yashiro and left a hole in his heart, not only that, ever since their night together he became impotent, as oppose to the life long effects his stepfather left him. The difference is that NOW Yashiro wants to be loved and treated gently.... And I think he really wants these from Doumeki, and maybe only from Doumeki.

Anyway, Im sorry for blabbing too much. Your analysis was really a good read, as well as your replies, they really opened up new perspective to the story and it makes me appreciate Saezuru and Yoneda sensei even more.

Hi, thank you :) and thanks for sharing your thoughts! Oh, yes, you made lots of good points. That scene in chapter one was A+ and really set the tone for what was to come. I remember even writing about it in my first analysis, wondering whether it was going to be representative of the rest of the story. I mean, it was really symbolic in that scene how the last thought bubble Yashiro had was, “anyone will do, just fill me up,” right as Doumeki walks into the office, calmly walks past all of Yashiro’s underlings who were sworn to protect him— then just enters his new boss’ office, and without knowing the context or caring about the consequence, instinctively grabbed that cop’s wrist before he could hit Yashiro.

It’s so interesting when themes make reappearances throughout the manga, except each time you can see how the story has developed. It really does make you appreciate Yoneda’s artistry more every time. She doesn’t miss. Everything will get its conclusion.

Now when Doumeki intervenes, he’s not playing around.. there’s no question of “are you okay,” because he knows it’s not okay. It helps, of course, that Doumeki isn’t an underling trying to stay by Yashiro’s side anymore; thus Doumeki doesn’t care if Yashiro likes it or not when he interferes. @neartheeasternfence had an interesting theory that I totally agree with, saying that Doumeki never intended to run into Yashiro again, which would mean that Doumeki’s actions in regard to Yashiro aren’t motivated by the selfish (sorry) need to stay by his side. So it’s no surprise he’s been interfering more intensively than before the timeskip.

And, you’re right, so many people in Yashiro’s life failed to intervene even once. Ryuuzaki is a total character foil to Doumeki. They are complete opposites, even though they both hold affection for Yashiro. Ryuuzaki even plays into Yashiro masochism, despite knowing deep down it’s a front. But Ryuuzaki’s downfall is his insecurity.

Yup, I agree, Doumeki isn’t a total saviour, which is understandable.. he’s human and has human flaws. He wanted so badly to stay by Yashiro’s side that he ended up hurting him. He should’ve read the obvious signs and not been so persistent about touching and sleeping with Yashiro. I think if he had instead just continued to interfere/save Yashiro from harm, it would have done the trick over time.. which is really easy to say in hindsight but oh well. In Doumeki's defence, it is really hard to find a way with Yashiro, who doesn't like being told what to do. There's no guarantee anything would have worked

[rydiacosplay]

L from Death Note.

Music: L's theme (Death Note OST).

[sorrowdivine]

Ryuuzaki from Saezuru as priest <3

For @mitrr